In 2001, the Government of Ontario launched a "Smart Growth" process for the Province. It established a Smart Growth Secretariat (SGS) and a panel for each of the major regions (or Zones) in Ontario to study development patterns, environmental quality, transportation supply and demand, and other trends in each Zone. The following papers were developed by experts in each issue, reviewed by Neptis, the SGS, and others, and presented to the sub-panel in fall 2002 and early 2003. The panel for the Central Zone formed sub-panels to study Strategy, Gridlock, and Waste Management. The Strategy sub-panel, chaired by Mayor Robert MacIsaac, of Burlington, asked Neptis to commission a series of issue papers to provide information on the current situation in the Central Ontario Zone, and to suggest possible directions for the future.

The production of the series was managed by Pamela Blais, Metropole Consultants

Blais, Pamela M., The Growth Opportunity, 2003.

Blais, Pamela M., Smart Development for Smart Growth, 2003

Bourne, Larry S., Social Change in the Central Ontario Region, 2003

Fraser, Donald M., Greenlands in Central Ontario, 2003.

Gertler, Meric S., The Regional Economy, 2003.

Gilbert, Richard, Energy and Smart Growth, 2003.

Miller, Eric. J., and Soberman, Richard, Travel Demand and Urban Form, 2003.

Ogilvie, Ken, Air, Water, and Soil Quality, 2003.

Walton, Margaret, Agriculture in the Central Ontario Zone, 2003.