To Whom It May Concern,…

To Whom It May Concern,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make my concerns heard.

I am strongly opposed to Bill 23 and to the opening of parts of the Greenbelt for development.

Today in the world, we are facing so many crises. The climate crisis, the loss of biodiversity, inequality, etc. According to the scientists, we need to act now, we need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and protect ecosystems like forests and wetlands, to avoid catastrophic climate disaster.

While I can acknowledge that we have a housing crisis in Ontario and in particular in the GTA, Bill 23 will not resolve this crisis. And it will only makes things worse for the environment.

By stripping Conservation Authorities of their powers, wetlands and other ecosystems are going to be at great risk of being destroyed by developers. This will turn wetlands and forests that take GHG out of the atmosphere (GHG sinks) into GHG sources, releasing GHG emissions, at a critical point in history when we need to do exactly the opposite. It is important that existing ecosystems like forests or wetlands are kept intact and are protected. You can’t destroy an ecosystem somewhere and make up for it by adding land to the Greenbelt elsewhere. We will lose critical habitat for species. Also, with forests and wetlands, it takes a long time until they develop the ability to remove GHG from the atmosphere. Once you destroy them you can’t easily replace them with re-natured areas.

The development of new houses in the Greenbelt, will cause more GHG emissions compared to other policy options (development of new houses in existing urban communities), because the new homeowners will have to commute, hence burn fossil fuels, new streets and infrastructure must be built for these residents. See here for an analysis of how unsustainable and expensive suburbs are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nw6qyyrTeI.

I am also concerned, that this bill will erode our democracy, when it will reduce participation and transparency of development projects, and strip away the powers of conservation authorities.
I don't see how Bill 23 can benefit anyone besides a few wealthy developers, while it works against the people of Ontario and against the planet.
It is disgusting that the government names this bill the "More homes built faster act", when it is so obvious that it will not help us solve the housing crisis and will only make the climate and social crises worse. It is unfair to the people who live now and to future generations. It seems to be nothing else but the sell off of our nature and health to benefit a few rich people, while we the majority have to suffer more.

Please repeal Bill 23. Please keep protecting the Greenbelt. Please keep Green building standards in place. Please work on real, sustainable solutions for the housing crisis.
I wish this government would reflect on what they do to us and our children and stop working against us and start moving in the right direction. Bring back policies to fight climate change. Start reducing GHG emissions and protect more nature than less.

Thank you!