I’m writing to express my…

I’m writing to express my opposition to the amendment to the Greenbelt Act that would remove 7,400 hectares of land from the Greenbelt.

I’m very concerned about the future of Ontario’s food security. According to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario currently has a high rate of farm loss than in previous decades. The federation has also indicated that only 5% of Ontario’s land mass is usable farm land. That to me is quite a low number. I don’t know why we would want to see that number reduced even lower.

Given external shocks and supply chain vulnerabilities due to climate change and other global events, we need to protect local farming.

Housing is important. But this plan to remove Greenbelt land does not address affordable housing. If anything, it will cost municipalities more to service these areas. Many municipalities have said that urban sprawl is not necessary as they can plan for additional housing within their current boundaries.

In terms of the need for housing to meet the need of increase immigration, most new immigrants will likely come from high density urban areas where many people live in high rises.

Also it does not make sense to remove land from the Greenbelt when interest rates are on the rise and new construction home sales are starting to see a decline.

I call on this government to act in the best interests of the majority of farmers, municipalities, and Ontario residents by continuing to protect Greenbelt in its current form.