I am strongly opposed to the…

I am strongly opposed to the open-for-business planning tool. It undermines the Official Plan process by allowing municipalities to go around it. Beyond that, it undermines the municipality's responsibility to its citizens by allowing them to forgo public consultation.

This planning tool favours businesses and large developers over the needs of the public. Green spaces and rural areas are key for a city's well-being including recreation, water protection and farming opportunities. This is why provincial legislation such as the Greenbelt Plan and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan were developed. As a citizen in the City of Hamilton, protection of these rural areas and green spaces from developers, who do not have the public's interests at heart, and councillors is extremely more important than increased revenue in the City. Increasing rural development would end up costing us way more in servicing and environmental losses than the suggested economic benefits.