I am strongly against this…

I am strongly against this proposed amendment. The Greenbelt has been designated as protected land to preserve the natural heritage of Ontario and permanently protect several important wildlife and wetland areas. This proposed change comes with potentially grave environmental consequences and is not only completely irresponsible, but a slap in the face to voters who were promised continued protection of the Greenbelt.

While housing is a significant crisis currently, there are multiple alternative avenues to increase housing that do not increase the already massive urban sprawl in southern Ontario and encroach on protected environmental preserves. For example, large portions of the GTA and surrounding cities are still zoned for single-family units. Working with cities to amend zoning laws to increase high-density and affordable housing would significantly increase the available housing while only minimally adding to the current urban footprint.

Opening up new development areas in the greenbelt will only add to urban sprawl without significantly improving the housing situation, and will simultaneously lead to permanent environmental destruction that would be a blight on the future of Ontario. I urge the government to reject this proposal.