To whom it may concern, It…

To whom it may concern,

It is with profound disappointment that I submit this comment regarding the Conservative Government's controversial decision to pass Bill 23. The More Homes Built Faster Act, which proposes several irresponsible amendments to the Greenbelt Plan, is a short-sighted idea which will cause long-term, irreversible damage to environmentally-sensitive agricultural areas and wetlands. The provincial governments decision to disregard concerns voiced by environmental advocacy groups about building on previously protected lands for the selfish benefit of developers is deeply troubling.

Proposed destruction of Greenbelt ecosystems will not only decimate local populations of important plant and animal species, it will also have a negative-impact on the ecological diversity of neighbouring protected lands of the Rouge National Urban Park. Building on these lands will additionally cause significant harm to the health of the watershed, which drains into Lake Ontario and is highly interconnected with many ecologically important natural habitats. Not only does this impact wildlife, building upon these unique geographic regions will impair the natural infrastructure required for water security. This watershed provides invaluable health and economic benefits to the population of Ontario, including acting as a natural system of water filtration, waste processing, water runoff, and flood control. It is of utmost importance that our province continues to preserve and protect the watersheds of the Greenbelt. This ecologically-significant and unique region of the province provides residents of Ontario with diverse services that cannot be efficiently replaced by man-made interventions.

These lands are also essential to support our local food and farming industries. With the concerning rise in produce costs and the increase in food insecurity that many residents of Ontario face, the proposal to convert fertile lands supporting local agriculture to suburban sprawl makes little sense.

It is the firm belief of many scientists, engineers, and urban planners, that this decision will not address the housing supply crisis which Toronto currently faces. Bill 23 does not detail any actionable plans to build affordable housing with accessible healthcare, transit, and education to supplement these new developments. Leaving current developers who own these lands to make these decisions is irresponsible and does not ensure that strategies will be maintained to propel our province forward.

As a long-term Pickering resident who has lived on the edge of the beautiful Greenbelt for much of their life, I recognize the importance that these lands provide to the overall health and wellbeing of the people of this province. I plead with the Conservative Government of Ontario to deeply rethink their stance on Bill 23. This decision is one of the most important issues that the Province of Ontario faces right now and it is imperative that expert opinions be carefully considered as there is a high probability of creating irreversible damage to these important lands.

I appreciate your time reading over this comment and desperately hope that the Conservative Government of Ontario will make the right decision of repealing Bill 23.

Sincerely,

A concerned citizen