Hello, The proposed…

Hello,

The proposed expansion of the use of MZOs and adjustments to the process is a concept with which our family strongly disagrees.

The use of an MZO was a tool to be applied only in the most difficult circumstances and subject to restrictions. Those restrictions had a purpose and provided protections with a long term perspective, beyond any government's limited period of power. Your changes are not democratic, offer no protection for wetlands, greenspace, rural heritage, wildlife habitat and many other facets of climate change or similar issues, and effectively shut down any opposing view. This smacks of Trump-ism whereby your Team is applying the rules of "do as I tell you and I will enforce only my preferences". Although I am sure you appreciate the funding for your campaign as any candidate would, it is also your obligation to take into account the rights and desires of all citizens and especially those most directly impacted by MZO projects in their area. You cannot put your role and responsibility to the People secondary just because the meal on your table was provided by the special interest of extreme development and profiteers who only have short term profit goals and are not left with the aftermath of an unvetted MZO carelessly approved by those in power for a brief moment in time. The latter is has a permanent damage impact which cannot be undone, instead it becomes a brief note in history books of past failures.

The process of an MZO application , along with the rule and oversight of a Conservation Authority may be mean parties are at loggerheads however the balancing of the two is what can make it successful. Your new concepts create a one sided debate, a pendulum with no swing one might say, which is of no value and makes one question your motives. Land is a limited resource. Are you a contributor to its demise or are you a leader that recognizes the future implications if caution is not exercised? Are you just bullying ahead, with no thought of the repercussions?

The conservation authorities play a vital role in maintaining our greenspace and protecting, quite often, people from themselves. This includes ensuring rules are applied for the long term benefit of all residents and quite often in situations where understanding the impact requires specialized and/or a broader scope of knowledge than the average person.

MZOs must have oversight and it is essential to limit the activity. The ever increasing pressure of population growth needs a creative re-thinking. We need ideas to create prosperity without the requirement to do so via population expansion, and thoughts on how to incentivize fewer numbers of people without losing the value of a viable economy. It is possible, but it does take leadership and forward thinkers.

We kindly ask you to reconsider your strategy on MZOs.