1. Paris and Galt Moraines…

1. Paris and Galt Moraines should be included in the Greenbelt and all the Grand River watershed as it is source water for 800,000 Ontarians, now and over 1,000,000 in the future. Moraines in southern Ontario provide water for 4 out of 5 Ontarians. Moraines store water, keep it cool, and most importantly provide base flow of water during droughts.
2. All urban river valleys should be in the Greenbelt as these include wetlands, floodplains, trail systems, diverse wildlife habitat, and areas for numerous outdoor activities.
3. Add to the Greenbelt all Natural Heritage Systems for contiguous protection and add the south slope of the Oak Ridges Moraine in Northumberland County to protect the agricultural lands for farming, the forests, wetland, and cold water streams down to the shoreline of Lake Iroquois. See the Bluebelt map and studies done in 2015 to 2017 as this should form the basis of Greenbelt expansion in the eastern area of south central Ontario. The protection of sensitive and critical water sources and areas is critical to ensure our wells and farmers have enough water especially in droughts, and to mitigate the effects of climate change. Without water our homes and farmers cannot sustain us. We need to keep the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and include in the Greenbelt the remainder of this moraine.
4. Growth management of urbanization needs to be based on maintaining settlement area boundaries and infilling them. That's where the housing, transportation, education, jobs, retail and infrastructure is. We know there is enough land designated for development in the settlement areas because municipalities are obligated to do so to 2031 at a minimum. Other than Toronto and Peel, there is a surplus of development land so there is no reason to designate more. Once developed that land use is irreversible and we cannot lose more land to development.
5. Aggregate pits should not be allowed when to do so will undermine and contaminate water supplies or water going through them will become contaminated on its way to our lakes.
6. Our Greenbelt is threatened and destroyed by infrastructure going through it. Our government cannot dishonour and destroy our Greenbelt by building roads, pipelines, towers, highways, sewers, transit corridors etc. through it. You must cease highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass. This highway is not necessary, it is way too expensive, and will cause irreversible damage to the agricultural lands, streams, wetlands and natural environment in its path.
7. There must be meaningful public consultation with landowners, farmers, First Nations and other stakeholders on lands to be included in the expansion of the Greenbelt. Expansion criteria must follow science-based ecological, hydrological and conservation best practices and ensure economic viability of farming as the predominate land use.
8. The government must analyze the impact of other government policies on existing and proposed Greenbelt protected lands and develop recommendations to mitigate negative impacts.
9. Greenbelt protection keeps farmland affordable for farming. In Northumberland we have many 4th and 5th generation farming families who want to keep farming and should be able to afford to do so.
10. I support the findings and reports of "Expanding Ontario's Greenbelt, Getting it Right", and Ontario's Headwaters Institute Report.