Proposed Amendments to the…

Proposed Amendments to the Greenbelt Plan

ERO Number 019-6216
I do not support the proposal for Amendments to the Greenbelt Plan for the following reasons:
- an environmental assessment is needed to confirm the impact of removal/redesignation of the specific lands from the Greenbelt that would be development. The environmental assessment needs to address all aspects of the potential impact including the impact to watersheds and flooding. The outcome of the environmental assessment would need to receive support from Conservation Authorities and other experts in planning and experts in environmental assessments. Development and hardsurfaces significantly impact water flow, runoff and and can lead to flooding which urban areas struggle with more and more and individual/residential insurance policies do not cover damages from flooding. In addition, individuals are negatively impacted when roads are damaged / closed due to flooding and more importantly habitats are negatively impacted by flooding caused by water diversion/flash flooding driven by developments shifting water flow patterns.
- A clear and supported housing development plan would need to be supported more broadly as part of a greater Ontario review and strategy. Intensification of residential areas and ensuring accessible housing prices (including low income housing) are key elements to any new developments going forward and it is not clear the province's plan/strategy for development going forward. There is lack of clarity on the long term Ontario strategy and how these proposed/impacted Greenbelt lands would fit in the strategy and there is not clear support from experts in planning and land use and without this these proposed changes to the Greenbelt land use cannot be entertained.
- Conflicts of interest and ethics must be investigated - the identified lands to be removed or redesignated from the Greenbelt have been reported to be owned by some individuals who have affiliations with the Ontario Government elected members; some landowners have donated directly to campaigns and indirectly to other development projects funded/collaboration with the current government. This indicates a conflict of interest and questionable ethics in general and specifically related to this Greenbelt amendment proposal. Some mainstream media articles indicate that some Greenbelt land (that could not be developed at the time) was purchased by people with affiliations with the Premier/Ontario Government as recently as September 2022 right before this Greenbelt amendment was posted for public comment. The timing of land purchases by developers in these identified areas suggests they had very detailed inside information from government individuals about this proposed Greenbelt amendment timeline and specific lands in scope; these developers stand to gain significant profits from this inside information and it is not clear if the Ontario Government individuals could gain further from this trade of inside information. Mainstream media links below must be considered in the scope of this public consultation. This requires an investigation into Conflicts of Interest and the ethical behaviour of elected officials/the Ontario Government. Based on these reports, this Greenbelt amendment is not in the best interest of Ontario (citizens and lands/habitats/watersheds) as a whole but instead significantly favours/benefits specific individuals/families. An investigation is required and the Greenbelt amendment cannot proceed.

Mainstream media investigative reporting has highlighted conflict of interests that need to be investigated first:
- https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2022/11/17/they-recently-bo…
- https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-green-party-asks-integrity-commissio…
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/developer-greenbelt-additional-p…
- https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/why-critics-say-doug-ford-s-housin…
- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-sales-of-greenbelt-land-…
- https://thenarwhal.ca/ford-ontario-greenbelt-cuts-developers/