Today I am writing to you in…

Today I am writing to you in support of the existing Greenbelt and our Conservation Authorities that protect Ontario's wetlands, woodlands, and other natural areas. We are so blessed to have these wild natural spaces and it is terribly short-sighted to think that your proposal to "adjust" the Greenbelt won't have a long-term effect on future farming or our natural heritage. Imagine NYC if some short-sighted politician had developed parts of Central Park... it would not be the amazing city that it is today without that jewel. 

The Greenbelt is Ontario's jewel. Let's preserve it for wildlife and migrating birds, for preventing and mitigating future climate change events (like extreme flooding), for ensuring farmers can provide us with locally grown food, and for leisure activities like hiking and canoeing. Please don't swap existing protected lands for plots owned by local developers. This is a gross misunderstanding of what the Greenbelt was intended for, and will eviscerate future protection arguments with a dangerous precedent.

There is existing land within our current municipalities that can be used... our Regional Planning already has expertly-designed plans in place for more housing, that take into account existing transit and services for housing. Creating "in-fill" opportunities for new housing would be the most creative and environmentally-friendly option... near existing transit (that my tax dollars fund), close to existing amenities like community centres and libraries (that my tax dollars have built), and existing retailers and employers and established communities. Please rethink this short-sighted plan to develop what was already protected, our existing jewel, the Greenbelt.

In addition to my concerns about the Greenbelt I am also deeply concerned about many of the components of Bill 23 and associated policy proposals that would prohibit our Conservation experts (our Conservation authorities) from doing anything to prevent urban sprawl that would cause flooding and erosion, and prevent the destruction of local protected habitats and ecology that can never be re-created once it is destroyed by development. We've seen severe flooding in Ontario already... let's listen to experts on ways to mitigate this!

Further, please don't eliminate Green Building standards. Requiring buildings with higher environmental standards will only benefit future owners and tenants. If Ontarians don't start switching to green vehicles and green homes and building options, our children's and grandchildren's futures will be severely affected by extremes of climate change and by then, it will be too late.

I love this paragraph from Environmental Defence Canada... so I will copy it here:

"Unless the major flaws in Bill 23 are addressed it will further the destruction of critical natural areas in a time of climate crisis while also failing to deliver the urban transformation – or the affordable housing – that Ontario needs.

In conclusion, please desist from removing any lands from the Greenbelt – even if they are replaced by other lands in other areas– and revise or cancel Bill 23."