Concerned Citizens of King…

Concerned Citizens of King Township. www.cckt.ca

April 19, 2021 Submission for ERO: 019-3136 Growing the Greenbelt

Introduction

Concerned Citizens of King Township (CCKT) is an active citizens-based organization located in King Township, an organization which has been continuously active for 50 years. CCKT advocates for sustainable planning throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe, by giving a high level of protection to prime agricultural lands, rural landscapes and natural heritage features. Along with countless other organizations and individuals we applaud and support the vision and objectives of Ontario’s Greenbelt Plan, and welcome this opportunity to contribute ideas in how best to expand the Greenbelt Plan Area.

The Greenbelt: A Marvellous Vision and Legacy

The Ontario Greenbelt is a valuable legacy to give to future generations. It is the largest continuous greenbelt of its kind in the world, protecting and sustaining prime agricultural land and a variety of valuable natural heritage features. In addition the Greenbelt Plan is designed to compliment the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe which provides policies to accommodate future growth in existing Settlements and Urban Areas by establishing firm boundaries and building complete, compact communities.

Foundational Principles

–– An expanded Greenbelt contributes to the long term health and well-being of communities and future generations.
–– An expanded Greenbelt provides resilience in Ontario, sustains a robust agricultural economy and long term supply of local food, sustains healthy headwater areas for numerous river systems, protects natural heritage features – forests, wetlands, rivers, ponds and lakes – and provides valuable mitigation for climate change and extreme weather events.
–– Retain all lands currently in the Greenbelt. Do not permit removal of Greenbelt land or land swaps. Cancel current plans to extend or build major infrastructure within the Greenbelt including the GTA West Highway, the Bradford Bypass and the expansion of the York Durham Sewer System through the Oak Ridges Moraine.
–– Maintain firm Settlement and Urban boundaries recognizing there is adequate land available within Settlement and Urban Areas to accommodate residential and employment growth to 2051, and create efficient, complete, compact communities.
–– Ensure reasonably high densities in Urban and Settlement Areas to make cost-effective use of existing infrastructure and support local and regional transit.
–– An expanded Greenbelt provides consistency in planning policies for agricultural lands, watershed areas and natural heritage systems.

Specific Recommendations for Expansion of the Greenbelt

–– Expand the Greenbelt to include the Bluebelt Plan as identified on the Bluebelt Map created and submitted by the Ontario Greenbelt Association (OGA) in 2017 as part of the public consultation regarding expansion of the Greenbelt at that time.
–– Include the Paris Galt Moraine and refine boundaries of this moraine and other moraines through scientific studies.
–– Include other significant moraines within the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH): Waterloo Moraine, Orangeville Moraine, Oro Moraine, Gibraltar and Singhampton Moraines. All the moraines contain invaluable headwaters areas for significant river systems in the GGH, sustaining eco-systems and providing drinking water for many urban and settlement areas, plus the rural countryside.
–– Include all the watershed areas for Lake Simcoe to provide consistent policy protection for the entire lake.
–– Include the watershed areas for the Nottawasaga River, Rouge River and Grand River. These major river systems in south central Ontario contribute to resiliency in sustaining healthy natural heritage systems and climate mitigation and provide an important source of water for many rural areas.
–– Include Northumberland County with the shoreline to Lake Ontario and numerous river watersheds in this area.
–– Include the entire Niagara Region with specialty crop areas and other prime agricultural lands.
–– Expand the Greenbelt to include urban river valleys, plus the watershed areas for these urban rivers. Healthy watersheds are vital to sustaining healthy urban rivers. Linkage corridors are established and protected.
–– Include prime agricultural lands throughout the GGH in an expanded Greenbelt to sustain agricultural systems and a robust agricultural economy. Southern Ontario contains some of the best soils for farming in all of Canada and a large portion of the limited lands suitable for agriculture in Canada. Protection of these agricultural lands and valuable farms provides food security and stability in rural land prices, greatly reducing land speculation.
–– Include natural heritage features throughout the GGH in an expanded Greenbelt – forested lands, wetlands, ponds, river valleys, and floodplains.

Conclusion

CCKT affirms the high value of this initiative in expanding Ontario’s Greenbelt and the legacy it brings to Ontario and future generations.

Sincerely, J. Bruce Craig, Chair,
on behalf of Concerned Citizens of King Township