I would like to start by…

I would like to start by saying I understand there is a significant shortage of housing, largely affordable housing in Ontario. And I understand the importance of providing this housing as quickly as possible. However, I do not believe that it is prudent to remove areas of the Greenbelt to do so. There are more than enough lands within Southern Ontario, and around the Greater Golden Horseshoe, that can be developed for single family homes. And there are plenty of brownfields within existing municipalities that can be redeveloped into multi-unit residential properties, ideally providing attainable and affordable units. The removal of Greenbelt lands sets the dangerous precedent that protected lands shall remain protected unless these lands can be used for something else more pressing at the time. What happens when the next housing crisis hits Ontario. And the next, and the next. As a province, do we continue to erode the Greenbelt until it has become a suburb of the GTA? Where does the development end? Because if this is allowed to happen, there is nothing to stop additional areas of the Greenbelt from being picked apart and developed in the future. I urge the government to look to other areas within Southern Ontario for the development of single family homes, and to leave protected areas protected, now and in perpetuity so that my grandchildren may enjoy these same areas.
Thank you
Jay