I am writing today to…

I am writing today to register my opposition to the changes in the Greenbelt which have been made in support of bill 23 to build more homes faster bill. It is necessary for us to have a bill called the happy healthy homed Ontarians bill. This would support gentle healthy densification when consultation with the existing community has been completed. Two of the key areas in this bill that I oppose are: 1. The cutting of cooperative consultation with the public and environmental agencies such as conservation authorities, when development is planned. 2. Reducing the environmental protections when development is considered, to the very basic prevention of disasters such as floods with no regard for natural heritage systems and biodiversity. This approach will and has only contributed to decreasing our health and contributing to climate change. This is not a collaborative approach for healthy homed Ontarian's. Much work has been done and should be utilized in this area, for example, the Ontario housing affordability task force states “a shortage of land is not the cause of the problem land is available both inside existing built-up areas and on undeveloped land outside the Greenbelt… Most of the solution must come from densification…“ on my street alone there are four large homes which have been completely empty for over four years and continue to remain empty. Many of us in our suburbs have large lots that could be shared. Our roads, parks, schools, libraries and other infrastructure are already established and paid for and are continuing to be supported by our taxes. The proposed changes to the Greenbelt, under bill 23 undermine collaboration, democracy and negatively impact healthy communities. I would ask bill 23 be rescinded . This bill would result in real estate and developers being very busy repeating our unhealthy past of sprawling subdivisions for the upper middle class which in the end will not address our current housing problem or support the healthy and creative changes we need.