I am a lifelong resident of…

I am a lifelong resident of East Gwillimbury (Mount Albert) and northern York Region (Newmarket, Aurora, King). I frequently visit Lake Simcoe and other parts of Simcoe County and I do so only because of the local environment. Its disappointing to me that I've lived through the shift from going swimming at Sibbald Point and Jacksons Point without thinking about water quality to now where I won't risk swimming in Simcoe. As a triathlete I need to open water swim and I instead need to swim in a former quarry in Bolton. Looking on the map its obvious I should swim and fish and enjoy Lake Simcoe and its a shame for any resident, politician or bureaucrat not to be moving towards that future rather than further away.

I support the expansion of the Greenbelt in Simcoe County. This is a vital environmental resource that is closest to Canada's largest population base. Great to protect the Canadian arctic (please continue!) but it is far more impactful to regular Canadians to have green space near to where they live and work and play. If managed properly, this can also return to being a larger part of both local and international tourism since it is so close to high activity areas.