I am writing this comment to…

I am writing this comment to register my objections to the "Proposed Redesignation of Land under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan". Although I approve of the addition of the Paris Galt Moraine lands, it should not come at the expense of other lands in the Oak Ridges Moraine. Protected land is not like a pack of trading cards. It can't be exchanged and traded off as though it doesn't matter. Not all land is equal in value as farmland or wildlife habitat. Additionally, the "Report of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force" tells us that this is unnecessary. We have more than enough land within current municipal boundaries to suppy demand.

Ontario is one of Canada's premier agricultural regions (Canadian Agriculture Census, "Ontario is an agricultural powerhouse that leads in many farming categories"). We need our farmland now more than ever. We all saw how fragile the food supply system is over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, with empty shelves and prices rising. Ontarians need to know that we can get locally-produced products to ensure our food security for the long-term. We're already losing some of our best quality farmland in places such as Peel and Durham regions, which are collectively sacrificing more than 20,000 acres of land for development (The Narwal, "Southern Ontario’s challenge: increase housing without losing farmland"). We shouldn't accept that, considering that we have viable alternatives.

The "Report of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force" provides several recommendations that shouldn't be ignored. As the Report states, "Land is not being used efficiently across Ontario", and "a shortage of land isn't the cause of the problem". Land is available within existing built-up areas. We can find room for more homes by increasing density, particularly close transit and highways, and redeveloping underused and redundant commercial properties into housing or mixed residential and commercial use. Updating zoning rules and reducing bureaucratic roadblocks would help streamline the process. The Ontario government should work with municipalities to make a better system for everyone.

This short-sighted proposal will redesignate priceless and irreplaceable protected lands for development. It is unnecessary, as outlined in the "Report of the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force", and will do nothing material to solve the long-term problem of providing affordable housing for the people of Ontario.