Dear Review Committee, Thank…

Dear Review Committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment about the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement. This document is important for ensuring good planning for the prosperity and well being of all Ontarians. However, I feel the proposed changes to the PPS will diminish protections for the natural environment and farmland across Ontario, hurting its citizens now and into the future. Overall, the proposed changes do not present a balanced approach to land use planning and they unduly favour aggregates extraction and development over other provincial interests, in particular natural heritage and agriculture that we all depend on.

I have seen the letter to be submitted by Ontario Nature and fully support their recommendations. They provide a thorough review of the proposed changes and the negative impacts many of these will have on natural heritage and farmland. At a time when we are facing climate and biodiversity crises, these changes are counter productive and will harm our ability to mitigate these major issues.

Please consider the following:

1. Aggregrates extraction should not override protections for significant natural heritage and prime agricultural land.

2. Current requirements for compact development, efficient use of infrastructure, integrated land use planning and achieving intensification and redevelopment targets should be retained.

3. Settlement area boundary adjustments should only be permitted as part of a Municipal Comprehensive Review.

4. Protections for wetlands must be retained or enhanced.

5. Address implementation of proposed climate change directives.

6. Retain key sections guiding implementation and interpretation in Section 4.

7. Aggregates companies should be required to demonstrate need.

All amendments to the PPS must be evaluated in light of the urgent need to respond effectively to climate change and the ongoing and accelerating loss of biodiversity, here and around the world. As noted in the PPS Vision statement (Part IV), the long-term prosperity and well-being of Ontarians requires planning for sustainability and resilience. Impact studies and policies which protect the natural areas and farmland upon which we all depend are integral to achieving the Vision.

Thank you for your consideration.