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?
I fully support it being included in the GB. The ERO posting itself justifies its inclusion: moraines help “to protect and recharge the groundwater aquifers that provide the basis for a broad range of needs, including drinking water supply for many of the communities, sustaining local ecosystems, and growth and economic management. Moraines allow rain and snowmelt to soak into the ground more rapidly and in much greater amounts than the surrounding, less permeable areas. This process provides a reliable, slowly changing supply of water called baseflow to rivers and streams.”
And, based on the rationale identified in the ERO posting I recommend all other moraines in the GGH be considered as well including Orangeville Moraine; moraine between Waterloo and Elora/Fergus; Escarpment Area Moraines such as the Gibraltar and Singhampton Moraines; the Horseshoe Moraines that flank the Niagara Escarpment to the north near Clearview.

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 so that it includes the area needed to protect all the headwaters and groundwater aquifers associated with the moraine and consequently ensures safe and abundant drinking water for dependent communities, sustains local ecosystems, and optimizes resilience to climate change impacts such as flooding and drought.

Question 3: What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of adding, expanding and further protecting Urban River Valleys?
I support the inclusion of Urban River Valleys. But if the intent is to protect lands which are threatened it is necessary to include private lands in river valleys. It is private lands within the Urban River Valleys that are threatened with urbanization and development, not public lands. And if the intent is to protect water resources it is necessary that the entire river valley is designated GB.

Given the apparent interest in designating the Paris-Galt Moraine it would be sensible to incorporate connections to this Moraine through the Speed and Eramosa Rivers.

Question 4: Do you have suggestions for other potential areas to grow the Greenbelt?
I recommend that the overarching principle in selecting lands for inclusion should be to protect. areas of high ecological and hydrological value that are under threat from urban development.
Accordingly, as identified in my answer to question 1 all moraines should be designated Greenbelt.

Question 5: How should we balance or prioritize any potential Greenbelt expansion with the other provincial priorities (growth management, transportation, infrastructure, natural heritage, agriculture) mentioned above?
The protection of natural and water resource systems and farmland must take priority. They are finite, irreplaceable and invaluable in terms of community and ecosystem health and resilience to climate change. Expanding the Greenbelt and protecting nature, water and farmland from development supports all provincial priorities given that they are the foundation of social and economic well-being.

It is my opinion that the Government is making it more difficult than it needs to be because of conflicting policies it has enacted. Its amendments to the Growth Plan have encouraged
land speculation, promoted growth beyond the urban boundaries which necessitates extension of expensive urban services into the countryside. The latter increases municipal debt and ultimately raises property taxes.

I urge you to weigh tough choices to grow the GB with the following question: who is going to oppose the designation and for what reason? If its only the current landowner who is opposing it and the rationale is personal profit that is not a reason for not designating GB. The raison d’être of the GB is to not destroy our natural assets for our generation’s benefit; it is for the future.

Housing needs of communities in the GGH can be met within lands already designated for development. In all municipal regions except Toronto and Peel growth has been less than projected and there are existing large surpluses of land available for development. Instead of developing in the sensitive farmland and natural areas, we can and should build complete communities (gentle density, people friendly, walkable, jobs close by climate resilient) inside the boundaries of our existing towns and cities. Brownfields close to existing infrastructure should be the priority for siting for commercial and industrial development. We need to stop building as we built after World War II i.e. sprawl.

Question 6: Are there other priorities that should be considered?

There must be meaningful consultation with affected Indigenous peoples: The government must proceed in a manner that honours and is informed by the responsibilities, rights, interests and Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous communities.