These so called housing…

These so called housing developments have nothing to do with addressing the real issues facing our current and future housing crisis in our market driven economy.
Firstly we have to come to the realization that we can no longer build monster homes and mansions, homes larger than 1,200 sq ft. The carbon footprint to build and maintain these large houses is no longer viable. The conspicuous consumption in our society has to be curtailed.
The number of individuals and families that are unable to afford rents let alone afford buying a house or condo is increasing . But all I see is expensive houses and condos being built in current urban areas where these people live and work. Where are they going to live? Where can they go? These ordinary folks are vital for the economy of these existing urban centers. Instead of thousands of condos we need affordable apartments, but condos seem to be a quick money grab for developers. And we know that these developers are who the present government gets significant funding from and in return the government works for their interests, not the ordinary folks. The number of people using food banks is increasing, because rents are no longer viable with current wages. And the solution does not lie with long commutes. If people cannot afford rents/houses, what makes the government think that they can afford a vehicle, insurance and gas. Not only is public transit expensive but it is horrendous in connecting one urban area to another. Yet this government's only solution to traffic congestion is building more highways, further destroying the greenbelt and farmlands adding to our carbon footprint. Other nations are way ahead of us with high speed rail services connecting distant urban area that could be developed. But instead we got rid of our railways to indulge ski-doo trails for the few. It's a shame that our governments, present and past, have not been forward thinking. All our urban developments have been car centric in planning. Driving to work and driving to shop for essential items. We are borrowing and stealing from the future generations just for the sake of convenience and greed and a sense of entitlement.
Secondly we can no longer keep destroying and encroaching on natural habitats. We are destroying what existing species and biodiversity that is left. (As in case you haven't heard the increasing coyote population in urban areas.) The current government and developers either don't realize or choose to ignore how vital having a variety of species, plants and animals, and protecting existing watershed areas. Maintaining and protecting this space, the Greenbelt, is vital to our existence, our local food supplies. For example, bees in particular and other insects are being threatened by diminishing natural landscapes are vital to so many of our farmers. We don't live separately from nature it is not there for us to exploit. We have limited rich, fertile soil, viable farmlands, the vast majority only located in southern Ontario. We can't farm on the Canadian Shield! And once that soil is gone, it is gone forever! But maybe the government has the naïve belief that we can just import all our food. And if there is an increase in costs who cares because at least the wealthy will be able to afford it and everyone else can line up at the food banks. But as we have learned from the increase in costs of food, it is not just from the cost of importing and shipping, but also due to the devastation of crops from adverse climate conditions. And as climate change is increasing around the globe, droughts, fire, floods etc. we need to protect whatever local food supply we have as much as possible.
Because truth be spoken our governments are near sighted and fundamentally do not care for our future, our children's future, our grandchildren's future. There is a growing concern with the mental health of our children and their concerns and worries about their future. We owe it to them, the future generations, and to reach deep within ourselves, to search what is really important to us and in our existence, the way we live. As farmland is expropriated for highways, (by the way we can't eat concrete), there is a concern with some developers that they will lose potential revenue of over 240 million dollars with the greenbelt. Wow! Are we going to be defined as a society of kindness and compassion towards everyone and every living being, or as a mindless, selfish society in quest only for material wealth and greed at the expense of everything else. The present provincial government won a so called majority with only 40% of the vote, with less than 50% of eligible voters voting. This should not even be on the table open for consideration.