Deliberate Misrepresentation

Fig. 1: Building permits issued for Infill and Greenfeild land areas.

Source: http://clear.london.ca/Urban_Planning_Infill.html

The Community of London Environmentally Awareness Reporting (Clear) Network’s website states that, based on building permits issued, developments in Greenfeild and Infill land areas have been “Staying The Same” over last twelve year time period, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

However, over the twelve year time period represented in the figure, the data clearly indicate an increase in Greenfeild developments of approximately 15%, with the coinciding Infill developments decreasing 14%. A 29% shift over a twelve year period should not be presented as “staying the same”.

CLEAR could just as accurately draw the following conclusion from the building permit data:

• If Greenfeild developments continue to increase at the current rate of 1.25% per annum, than in another 22 years all new developments will be occurring in Greenfeild land areas, with Infill developments representing zero percent of all new development.

The intentions of the CLEAR network are noble and commendable, but the blatant misrepresentation of the data is disheartening and inexcusable. Within CLEAR’s ‘Disclaimer’ it is stated that the “…Internet site is being provided for information purposes only”. If that’s the case, than why not just provide the information and omit the misleading analysis and politically paltry explanations?