Toronto homes and condos and apartments have people in them, whether they're owned or rented it is irrelevant. It's all about roofs over heads.  I agree with the Green Belt initiative. The sprawl as witnessed above the city, along the 400 Hwy as an eg., is horrible on every level - land use, density, traffic, cost of servicing, and just plain ugly.  The very best neighbourhoods in Toronto and around the world have a mix of density and use - Leaside, Forest Hill, The Kingsway to name 3.  The objective of planning, zoning and taxes should be to vastly increase supply of mid-to higher rise housing along all major routes in Toronto, well beyond the current activity.  There's virtually nothing but retail and one floor walk-ups along Bloor from the St. George subway to Islington.  The City is constantly harping about cycling in European cities, like that's going to work in the refrigerator Toronto is for months on end, but it's density and the beauty of the streetscapes they need to push.