Growing the Greenbelt - ERO …

Growing the Greenbelt - ERO #019-3136 - MY Submission #2 - Mar.31.2021

I urge the government to embrace this timely opportunity to safeguard our regional resilience by Growing the Greenbelt into an expanded area of the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH).

I firmly support the submission developed by like-minded environmental groups for this public Greenbelt consultation process and the recommendations that are summarized below:

We urge the province to grow the Greenbelt in the following areas:
· The Paris-Galt Moraine and Wellington-Waterloo Moraines;
· Urban River Valleys (URVs), including headwaters of all URVs in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) and the Grand River Valley from Lake Erie outlet to its headwaters in the Luther Marsh;
· Natural Heritage System across the Greater Golden Horseshoe;
· The Agricultural System across the Greater Golden Horseshoe;
· Lands and waters in the Bluebelt proposal (Appendix A); and,
· Key headwaters e.g. Lake Simcoe drainage not yet included.

Question 1: What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of the Study Area of the Paris Galt Moraine?

We recommend growing the Greenbelt to incorporate the Paris-Galt Moraine, including related
landscapes and headwaters and the Wellington-Waterloo Moraines.

Question 2: What are the considerations in moving from a Study Area to a more defined boundary of the Paris Galt Moraine?

We recommend area definition criteria as follows:
· Employ a science-based approach to define the boundary
· Protect the significant hydrologic features and functions
. Protect related headwaters in Wellington-Waterloo Moraines
· Consult meaningfully in engaging with all stakeholder groups
· Conduct in-person consultations once suggested boundaries are identified
· Develop clear & easy-to-implement options for property adjacent to the defined areas.

Question 3: What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of adding, expanding and further protecting Urban River Valleys?

We recommend the expansion of URV’s to incorporate connections to the Paris-Galt Moraine through the Speed and Eramosa Rivers in urban areas as indicated on the Greenbelt-Bluebelt mapping. We also recommend adding the following watersheds & source areas:
· Lake Simcoe recharge areas including the Severn Sound, Carden Alvar, Waverly Upland & Holland River watershed and other significant moraines & source areas in Clearview Township.
Lake Iroquois shoreline areas in Northumberland County; and,
· The entire Nottawasaga River Valley watershed

Question 4: Do you have suggestions for other potential areas to grow the Greenbelt?

We urge the Province to undertake studies and consultations with a view to adding areas in the GGH Agricultural & Natural Heritage Systems, blue areas in the Bluebelt map (Appendix A), and any other headwaters not captured in this documented mapping, to the Greenbelt.

Question 5: How should we balance or prioritize any potential Greenbelt expansion with the other provincial priorities mentioned above?

Growth Management
We recommend the province repair the Growth Plan and policies in Growing the Greenbelt to reduce land speculation, limit the extension of expensive urban services into the countryside that increase municipal debt, and remove emerging challenges for affordable housing.

Transportation and Infrastructure
In Growing the Greenbelt, we recommend the province review its mobility infrastructure plans and rescind projects that prompt urban growth in protected countryside & agricultural areas including:
· Cancelling the GTA West, Niagara Corridor and Bradford Bypass highways;
· Rescinding plans to build obsolete transit systems within the Greenbelt; and,
· Updating the GGH transportation models with Post-Covid commuting data

Natural Heritage System
We recommend growing the Greenbelt by adding key lands and hydrologic features identified in the GGH Natural Heritage System, including headwater areas and areas identified by conservation agencies and municipal mapping. We also urge the provincial government to allow for regional variations and, where there are conflicts between municipal and provincial policies regarding water and natural heritage, the more restrictive or protective policy should always apply.

Agriculture
We support the submissions made by the Ontario farm organizations and other conservation groups for Greenbelt expansion to include, protect & support the GGH Agricultural System.

Question 6: Are there other priorities that should be considered?

Health and Wellbeing
Growing the Ontario Greenbelt along with our natural heritage systems is a lower cost & highly effective way to address mental & physical health for long term public benefit.

Climate Change and Biodiversity
Growing the Greenbelt by adding Moraines of GGH from 2021 reporting, the URVs, the Bluebelt Map, and through the GGH’s Natural Heritage and Agricultural Systems build up the regional resilience needed to mitigate emerging changes to climate & challenges to biodiversity.

Regional Prosperity
We recommend the Province enhance the health and sustainable prosperity of the broader GGH in the Greenbelt. We encourage the government to add new policies embracing fair & green recovery with regional resilience for ecological integrity, social vitality & economic prosperity.

Aggregates
We support the advocacy by many Greenbelt stakeholders to limit/restrain new aggregate extraction across the GGH Natural Heritage System both within & outside the Greenbelt.

Respectfully submitted,

Ontario Citizen, Farmer, Greenbelt Resident and Taxpayer

Appendix A - Grow the Greenbelt and Protect the Bluebelt Map – October 2016

(included in this current ERO 019-3136 and in previous EBR 013-1661 submissions)

The Map in Appendix A was posted in the ERO space for supporting documents