Comment
This provincial government which declared prior to its election "unequivocally" that the Greenbelt, a noted and seamless zone of natural diversity, has now, post-election, declared that it is open for "development".
"The people have (no longer) spoken." This includes me.
Ontario badly needs more housing, but in 2022 we need affordable and more densified housing proximate to infrastructure - not housing that rends the fabric of the Greenbelt, thus far safe by legislation from the narrow focus of profiteering.
This proposed development cannot be called "affordable", but is rather urban sprawl comprised of expensive single family homes requiring more roads and infrastructure... funded publicly?
The press reports that developers bought up part of this protected Greenbelt space when it was still declared safe from development, and now stand to benefit handsomely from this purchase should the government's demand for eliminating its protected status be accepted. Addressing to verify- or not- this sequence of events would be a reasonable first step in determining how to approach this proposed project.
In any case, this government's flagrant volte-face on an "unequivocal" pledge to preserve the Greenbelt should cause those overseeing the determination of this project to think widely about the history and value of the Greenbelt to Ontarians, and not only to developers and potential purchasers.
Thank you.
Submitted December 6, 2022 11:42 AM
Comment on
Proposed Planning Act and City of Toronto Act Changes (Schedules 9 and 1 of Bill 23 - the proposed More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022)
ERO number
019-6163
Comment ID
80543
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status