Hello, I am a citizen of…

Hello,
I am a citizen of Hamilton and a parent of two young children, and I am vehemently opposed to the proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Plan. I am in agreement that we are facing a housing crisis that needs to be addressed, but this is not the way to do it. It will cost taxpayers far more per capita to maintain the infrastructure required to create residential areas in what is currently the Greenbelt than that it would to develop the many pockets of land already existing outside of the Greenbelt. Further, single family houses in large developments are not going to be financially accessible for the vast number of Hamiltonians who require stable, affordable housing. Moreover, given the current climate crisis we are ecologically and environmentally in a very precarious position; reducing the Greenbelt is extremely short-sighted. It will create the need for people to spend more time driving, reduce the availability of local foods, and irreparably destroy wetlands and other ecological habitats. To protect both human health and the health of the planet we need to increase housing in areas that facilitate people spending more time walking and cycling and less time driving. I am also curious about what has changed ecologically and with respect to our agricultural needs to erode the “permanent protection to the agricultural land base and the ecological and hydrological features, areas and functions within the Greater Golden Horseshoe and beyond”? Certainly we are in greater need than ever of farmland and ecological diversity as our planet is in the throes of a climate crisis? Please do not take action that will further impact our ability to grow food locally and destroy ecosystems that serve as invaluable carbon sinks.

Sincerely,
CH