As a lifelong Toronto…

As a lifelong Toronto resident and community worker I am flabbergasted, disgusted, and afraid of the proposal to open up the Green Belt to development. Practical logistics of it being a FLOODING area aside, and ignoring the hypocrisy of the premiere previously indicating he would not do this (two major issues alone), the land is PROTECTED conservation area! It contains wetlands and a massive range of biodiversity necessary to not only the province, but the country and world as a whole.

At a critical time in history such as this, with the world facing an environmental tipping point, I believe it is criminal for the Ford government to even propose this, to the obvious benefit of the contractors Ford has personal connections with. I strongly feel environmental protections must be strengthened, not weakened, and that we must turn to scientists and city planners, not development corporations to guide this province forward.

Affordable housing can be found within the city and surrounding areas by repurposing and upgrading existing unused, or poorly used, developed areas as seen with the recent successful redevelopment of Regent Park. I ask that what can be done within our cities is looked at before threatening invaluable and irreplaceable ecosystems in a series of projects that may well be reclaimed by nature anyway within the next decades if climate change is not mitigated.

This is not what the average Ontarian wants, not by a long shot, and I know with certainty I speak for my family, friends, and community when I say this.

Thank you for your consideration,

HC