I will begin by saying that…

I will begin by saying that I don't believe the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is ACTUALLY seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Greenbelt Plan - I think they want to APPEAR AS THOUGH they are seeking feedback.

The feedback has already been given. The people have spoken, and have been speaking for a long time. We spoke when we agreed to conserve the land in the first place... We spoke every time government money was allocated to protecting the land... We spoke every time an organization or individual spent their time, money, and/or energy protecting the land... We spoke in the house in the form of the official opposition... Affected municipalities and public bodies have been speaking through various channels. And members of the public continue speak in protests and demonstrations around the province BY THE THOUSANDS.

LISTEN TO US.

I am so deeply EMBARRASSED that a group of seemingly educated people could draft a proposal that is so blatantly void of any climate science. We are living in a climate crisis, and I want provincial representatives who 1) are aware of that fact, and 2) conduct their civic duties in accordance with said knowledge. We do need more homes faster, but we also need to align our ideals of growth and development with the realities of the climate crisis, and what we know from climate science. Climate science is telling us that we cannot afford to burn more fossil fuels (i.e., no highway) and that we need to better align our lifestyles with the limits of the earth (i.e., no McMansions along said highway).