I am incredibly disappointed…

I am incredibly disappointed by the Ford government's decision on the Greenbelt. I feel betrayed, angry and hopeless.

A commitment was made to protect the Greenbelt. Not to adjust it when it becomes convenient. Not to hold off until the price is right. To truly protect it, because habitat is important. Clean water is important. Access to nature for all of us is critically important.

I do not believe for a minute that adding additional land to the Greenbelt elsewhere in any way makes up for the decision to bulldoze any of it. I also do not believe this is a necessary decision. We do not have municipal population density in this province that is ANYWHERE near that of larger cities elsewhere in the world. Paris has a population density 10x that of Ottawa. So please explain to me why the Ford government thinks it is impossible to build more houses anywhere than in sprawling suburbs far from city centers. A large population in a city center will be able to support an excellent public transit system. Why does the Ford government think that sprawling developments that require massive road development and more super highways are the responsible answer to our housing affordability crisis? Is there ANY effort on behalf of this government to actually ensure the proposed developments are affordable? Living far from city centers forces reliance on cars. is the government going to somehow guarantee that cars and fuel will forever be affordable?

WE have an increasingly unhealthy population. We need to move our bodies. We need to get outside for our physical, mental and emotional health. Our kids need to be outside.

This is a hugely important decision and people in southern ontario are furious at this government. Ford and colleagues should be ashamed that they have even tabled this as a possibility. This is not necessary. It is uninspired, reckless and disrespectful of all of the citizens who have worked so hard to protect this green space and try and move us forward in a more thoughtful way.

Please do not do this.