I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed changes to the Greenbelt Area boundary regulation (Ontario Regulation 59/05).

First and foremost, due to the ongoing threat of climate change, all Ontario government bills and regulations should maintain or increase Ontario's green space, not change and reduce it. The Greenbelt also provides important flood protection for the Greater Toronto Area, as green space absorbs water that could otherwise cause damage in the cities it surrounds, access to nature for those of us living in big cities, and habitat for plants and animals.

I was also very disappointed to learn that First Nations groups living in Ontario were not consulted about these changes. Going back to the Royal Proclamation of 1763, Indigenous rights in Canada are legally recognized, and the Ontario government has a duty to consult and follow the recommendations of First Nations in this province.

The government claims these changes are necessary due to the housing affordability crisis. The government's own housing affordability task force, however, did not once recommend changes to Ontario's Greenbelt, noting that “a shortage of land isn’t the cause of the problem” (p.10). We should add density to existing municipal boundaries, and invest in supports that help houseless people find stable places to live.

The government's proposed changes to the Greenbelt Area boundary regulation (Ontario Regulation 59/05) would harm the environment, are happening without their duty to consult First Nations, and will ultimately not address the housing affordability crisis.