It is not certain that the…

It is not certain that the changes proposed, and the land swaps made, would provide any environmental benefit. Now, with more and more information about, and the consequences of, climate change (and negatively affecting our physical environment) we should know better than to encroach on natural spaces without THOROUGH research and care. The precautionary principle should be followed, to the law!

As The Narwhal outlines, beyond the lack of actual need for these lands, the questionable reasoning for Mr. Ford to hand developers (and his financial supporters - this should be investigated!!!) such a boon for their businesses, and the recognition that so many Ontario residents OPPOSE changes made to our beloved Greenbelt, this argument described below should stand out: the Greenbelt was NEVER designed (or created!) to be swaped! Let us NOT assume like those before us, that animals, wildlife, or humans live according to arbitrarily-drawn borders that humans in top-down positions draw. We see this colonial experience continue to cause problems across the world and it would be idiotic to do that here, in our home.

"Another thing to consider is the importance of habitat connectivity. Water flows and animals migrate. Experts say you can’t just draw a line around a piece of land, say it’s protected and assume it will all work out — how that land is connected to what’s around it will also define how successful conservation efforts there might be. That’s why land on the edges of the Greenbelt is just as important as what’s at the centre.

One example of this is Carruthers Creek east of Toronto: though parts of the waterway are protected through the Greenbelt, its headwaters aren’t. Environmentalists have long worried that development in those unprotected headwaters could degrade water quality and contribute to flooding in the protected areas downstream.

Connectivity was top of mind when the Greenbelt was designed. Though the legislation that created it may technically permit land swaps, it was never intended to allow them because the land it protects was intentionally chosen, Doyle said.

“We wrote innumerable briefing notes saying that swaps were not envisioned by the act,” he said. “The argument that you could take land out, particularly along the southern edge, and add it on the outer edge as they’re proposing would mean in the fullness of time, the Greenbelt will migrate. It’ll end up in northern Simcoe County if this pattern is continued.”

An aerial view of a creek flowing into a pond, then draining into Lake Ontario in an area surrounded by houses.
An aerial view of Carruthers Creek as it enters Lake Ontario in Ajax, Ont. Part of the waterway is protected as part of the Greenbelt, but its headwaters aren’t, and development upstream could degrade water quality and and contribute to flooding downstream — a case study for why connectivity matters in protected areas. Photo: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Environmentalists say they’re also worried this move could unleash a flood of other requests to open up the Greenbelt for development. It will “start a never-ending queue of Greenbelt land speculators at the minister’s door, each with their own convenient rationalization for paving their own patch of Greenbelt,” Phil Pothen, the Ontario environment program manager at the non-profit Environmental Defence, said in a statement.

The province didn’t answer a question from The Narwhal about whether it will consider other Greenbelt land swaps in the future.

Is this actually necessary to solve Ontario’s housing crisis?
Environmentalists and opposition parties have also argued for a long time that a lack of land isn’t the reason for Ontario’s housing crisis, and that more than enough has already been set aside for development.

Earlier this year, the Ontario government’s own Housing Affordability Task Force delivered a report that said the same thing: “A shortage of land isn’t the cause of the problem,” it read. “Land is available, both inside the existing built-up areas and on undeveloped land outside greenbelts.” A bigger problem, the report said, is that Ontario hasn’t used the land it has efficiently.

If the Ontario government has evidence contradicting the task force, it hasn’t shown its work. The province didn’t answer The Narwhal’s questions about the proof behind its decision Monday."

DO BETTER. LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND NOT THE MONEY-GREEDY DEVELOPERS IN MR. FORD'S POCKET. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OUR GREENBELT.

Think of the future... of our environment, our community, our children... and instead think of more creative and NOT DESTRUCTIVE ways to address our housing crisis. Do your jobs, and do better. And again, LISTEN TO EVERYONE SCREAM TO KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE GREENBELT!