Re: ERO #019-6813 Dear…

Re: ERO #019-6813

Dear Minister Clark,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) 2022 and the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. These changes will accelerate urban sprawl and contribute to the ongoing loss of farmland and natural areas in Ontario.

A shortage of land is not the cause of Ontario’s housing shortage, as noted by the Housing Affordability Task Force in 2022:

"Land is available, both inside the existing built-up areas and on undeveloped land outside greenbelts. … Most of the solution must come from densification. Greenbelts and other environmentally sensitive areas must be protected, and farms provide food and food security. Relying too heavily on undeveloped land would whittle away too much of the already small share of land devoted to agriculture. (p. 10)"

It is time to listen to the experts, who have shown that the amount of land already designated for development far exceeds what is needed to meet long-range housing targets.

There is no need for these proposed policy revisions. Such changes would:

- eliminate mandatory intensification and greenfield density targets that were designed to reduce urban sprawl;

- allow municipalities to expand settlement areas at any time without a comprehensive review of infrastructure needs or potential negative impacts on farmland and natural areas;

- force municipalities to allow three lots to be severed from every farm, even in prime agricultural areas;

- exempt lands that are the subject of Minister’s Zoning Orders from complying with provincial policies and official plans;

- remove the requirement for municipalities to undertake watershed planning; and

- weaken and eliminate policies intended to address climate change.

Ontario is losing farmland at an alarming rate. This is absolutely unacceptable! The proposed policies will make matters much worse and be highly detrimental to the land (and water) required to sustain our citizens.

Increasing development and urban sprawl will not solve current housing needs. Accordingly, I urge you to retain all PPS and Growth Plan policies that are designed to mitigate urban sprawl and protect farmland and natural areas in the Province of Ontario.