Premier Ford; Minister Clark…

Premier Ford; Minister Clark and the ERO,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to changes to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) that would undermine protections for significant and at-risk wildlife and habitats and fast-track development at nature’s expense. Specifically, I request the following:

• Remove section 2.5.2.2 which would allow aggregates extraction to trump protections for significant wetlands, woodlands and wildlife (including species at risk) habitat.

• Retain existing requirements for compact development, efficient use of infrastructure and policies to achieve intensification and redevelopment targets (sections 1.1.3.6, 1.1.3.7 a and b, and 1.6.7.2).

Frankly to hasten the conversion of rural and agricultural land into housing is fiscally irresponsible and continues to perpetuate deficit financing in rural areas where there is no industry and commercial businesses to support residential growth.

Any amendments to the PPS must be evaluated against the urgent need to respond effectively to climate change and biodiversity loss, two of the greatest challenges of our time.