Re: ERO 019-4485 Proposed…

Re: ERO 019-4485 Proposed Amendment to the Greenbelt Plan – Growing the Size of the Greenbelt

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed amendment to grow the size of the Greenbelt.

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is the authoritative voice of the tourism industry in Ontario. We represent 200,000 tourism businesses and over 400,000 jobs in every corner of our province. The businesses we represent include tour and guide services, resource-based tourism operators, outdoor recreation, food and beverage vendors, and hotels and accommodations, among many other sectors across our vast industry.

TIAO supports the proposed addition of the 13 Urban River Valleys to the Greenbelt Plan and the expansion of the Greenbelt more broadly. The expansion of the Greenbelt aligns with our priority to ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism activities and experiences through practices which mitigate climate change and protect natural heritage and water resource systems. The Greenbelt itself provides for a diverse range of economic and social activities associated with tourism.

However, as our businesses have been among the hardest hit in Ontario—enduring two years of revenue losses, job losses, and mounting debt—we would also like to ensure that the tourism industry continues to be consulted on an ongoing basis to minimize any disruption to local tourism commercial activity.

Thank you for considering this response and thank you again for the opportunity to participate in this consultation.

Yours sincerely,

Jessica Ng
Director, Policy and Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
jng@tiaontario.ca