The Greenbelt is important…

The Greenbelt is important to Ontarians because of its promise to *permanently* protect green space, farmland, and forests. The purpose of the Greenbelt is to preserve soils, habitat, and natural areas in perpetuity so that current and future generations have essential access to food security, flood protection provided by wetlands, and an integral component of mental and physical wellness: access to nature. The Greenbelt's function is also to protect species-at-risk and all wildlife from ever-encroaching human development and preserve a small respite for nature, which requires huge amounts of undisturbed time to be effective.

We must think of the needs of future farmers to access some of the most fertile soil in North America, which is found in the Greenbelt. This soil will be forever lost and displaced by the proposed development. The growing population of southern Ontario requires a stable, locally-available supply of food; the pandemic has highlighted the risks of relying on international supply chains for necessities like food. We must not be so short-sighted in caring for future generations' need to farm on the fertile lands of the Greenbelt. In the future, when southern Ontario does not have enough local farmland, people will look back in dismay, anger, and sorrow at the short-sighted and greedy decision to open up the Greenbelt for development.

Of course access to housing is essential. But the solution is not a binary "tall or sprawl" model of 60-storey condos or suburbs with massive homes that pave over the best soil in the province. We can densify our cities with a mix of tall condos, mid-rise buildings that preserve the character of streetscapes, and some suburban areas. Rather than opening up permanently protected land owned by developers who have donated to the Ford Government (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-sales-of-greenbelt-land-…) , let's look to expand mid-rise buildings, reconsider AirBnB and short-term rentals that reduce long-term housing options, and increase taxes on vacant homes. Rather than stealing from future generations and severely reducing our own access to already-limited local nature, natural flood protection, species habitat, and local farmland, let's look to proven urban planning strategies that have been successful in so much of the world while other regions preserve their Greenbelts in perpetuity. There is no reason Ontario can't be a leader in preserving and expanding the Greenbelt while also providing effective housing solutions. Please reconsider this Bill and the harm it will do to current and future generations of Ontarians, as well as to the natural world.