Question 1: What are your…

Question 1: What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of the Study Area of the Paris Galt Moraine?
Grow the Greenbelt to incorporate the Paris Galt Moraine, including its headwater areas.

Question 2: What are the considerations in moving from a Study Area to a more defined boundary of the Paris Galt Moraine?
• Use a science-based approach to define the boundary
• Protect all key hydrologic features and functions
• Engage meaningfully with Indigenous Peoples
• Conduct in-person consultations once suggested boundaries are identified and the pandemic has subsided
• Develop clear and easy-to-implement options for property outside the boundary to be added.

Question 3: What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of adding, expanding, and further protecting Urban River Valleys?
• Incorporate connections to the Paris Galt Moraine through the Speed and Eramosa Rivers in urban areas
• Add the following as Urban River Valleys:
o Lake Simcoe recharge areas including the Severn Sound and Carden Alvar, Waverly Upland, Clearview Township, Holland River
o Lake Iroquois shoreline areas
o The Nottawasaga watershed
Question 4: Do you have suggestions for other potential areas to grow the Greenbelt?
• Add areas in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Natural Heritage System,
• Add key headwater features, significant ground and surface water features, source water areas, and urban river valley connections (Bluebelt)

Question 5: How should we balance or prioritize any potential Greenbelt expansion with the other provincial priorities mentioned above?
Growth Management
• Prioritize growing the Greenbelt to reduce land speculation, limit extending expensive urban services into the countryside, avoid increased municipal debt loads, and reduce challenges to affordable housing.
Transportation and Infrastructure
• Align mobility infrastructure with existing built-up urban areas and CANCEL projects that encourage urban growth in the protected countryside and prime agricultural areas including:
o GTA West, Bradford Bypass, and Niagara Mid-Peninsula Highways;
o Transit stations in the Greenbelt
• Update transportation models with Post-COVID commuting data, as people may now be working from home more often
Natural Heritage System
• Incorporate lands and key hydrologic features identified in the Natural Heritage System, including headwater areas and areas identified by Conservation Authorities and municipal mapping. Allow for regional variations and, where there are conflicts between municipal and provincial policies regarding water and natural heritage policies, the more restrictive or protective policy should apply.
Agriculture
• Grow the Greenbelt across the Greater Golden Horsehoe Agricultural system.
Question 6: Are there other priorities that should be considered?
Health and Wellbeing
• Growing the Greenbelt along natural heritage systems is a cost-effective way to address mental and physical wellbeing.
Climate Change and Biodiversity
• Growing the Greenbelt via the Paris Galt Moraine, Urban River Vallys, the Bluebelt, and through the Natural Heritage and Agricultural Systems will build the regional resilience needed to mitigate the changing climate and challenges to biodiversity.
• Pursue a wide-ranging set of new policies to embrace a fair and green recovery and secure regional resilience, thereby protecting ecological integrity, social vitality, and economic prosperity.
Aggregates
• Prohibit new aggregate extraction throughout the Natural Heritage System both within and outside the Greenbelt.