Removing pieces of the…

Removing pieces of the greenbelt sets a truly bad precedent for the future. The greenbelt covers unique land in Ontario, being located mostly within the Carolinian woodlands region: the most biodiverse ecozone occupied by Canada.

We have already lost far too much of this region's woodlands since confederation, with the forest cover having dropped from 77% in 1861 to 19% in 1921. Less than 10% of the land of the Carolinian region is natural, and 95% of those natural places are under private ownership. We cannot afford further reduction of Carolinian woodlands.
Likewise, wetlands have suffered greatly, with 90% of the Niagara Region's wetlands already gone. As there is intense pressure from developers to destroy these lands, we must make sure there is strong protection for every wetland in the Niagara Region and all of southern Ontario.
ALL wetlands should be considered provincially significant. The less wetlands there are, the less habitat species that need wetlands to survive and thrive will have. The reduction of wetlands will inevitably lead to increased flooding, costing taxpayers and burdening our local governments.

Only 5% of Ontario is farmable. These farmable lands are at serious risk, as from 1996 to 2016, the province lost 175 acres a day. These amendments will only increase the loss of farmland in Ontario with no end in sight. What makes matters worse is that much of the development taking place on former farmlands is increasing CO2 emissions, since the suburbs being developed on farmlands lack proper connection to employment and retail areas. The car dependence of these suburbs will contribute to the ongoing use and creation of more parking lots that take up space that could otherwise be used for housing.

First Nations have a long history of opposing European settlement in their lands precisely because settlers drove away animals through their rapid destruction of habitat and negatively impacted the waterways that have been used by First Nations for fishing, transport, harvesting, and many other uses since time immemorial. Canada's courts have found in many cases that by destroying nature, First Nations are deprived of their rights, since their ability to exercise those rights are made extremely difficult if not impossible. In addition, Canadian courts have found that provincial governments have an obligation to protect First Nations' rights, which includes taking steps to protect nature.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council at Ohswken has made it clear that the area covered by the 1701 Beaver Hunting Grounds Treaty is under Haudenosaunee jurisdiction, and that these grounds include the greenbelt and the golden horseshoe. Likewise, Mississaugas of the Credit considers all the waterways within their territory to belong to them, as well as tracts of land surrounding Bronte Creek, 16 Mile Creek, the Credit River, and the Rouge River.
Developing Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas of the Credit lands without their consent would be seriously unethical.

Ontario municipalities have already more than enough room to build new housing within their urban boundaries. Undermining the conservation of wetlands, woodlands, and farmlands in southern Ontario is a massive mistake that will hurt us for years to come.
And to Premier Ford, I say this: keep your promise to not touch the greenbelt.
I therefore call on the provincial government to reject these proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Plan.