This proposal to return…

This proposal to return lands to the Greenbelt Protected Countryside designation is a positive move in light of both the Auditor General's and Integrity Commissioner's reports released over the summer regarding changes to the Greenbelt Plan and Regulation in late 2022. This proposal is a step in the right direction to curb urban sprawl, protect rural lands, and mitigate climate change.

Given that none of the lands removed from the Greenbelt are needed to address housing needs over the next 30 years, and in line with the Auditor General's recommendation, similar proposals for the other 14 sites that were removed from the Plan area and regulated boundary in December of 2022 should be undertaken.

Municipalities and the development community should be directed to focus on the build-out of lands within existing settlement areas, were there is existing or planned infrastructure to support it, and where affordable forms of housing are more likely to be provided.