It is with deep…

It is with deep disappointment that I register a comment on this proposal.

First off though the addition of the Paris Galt Moraine to the projected greenbelt should have been done years ago. This must proceed.

The proposal to remove lands from the greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan Area for housing development is nothing short of a betrayal to the people of Ontario and our natural spaces.

The greenbelt cannot be considered as an inventory of undeveloped land to siphoned off when a developer feels like they can make a buck.

Ontario needs farmland, greenspace and natural areas close it is urban core. The protection of this area is an excellent policy and model to the world. A failure to appreciate the greenbelts benefits and economic opportunities illustrates a profound lack of foresight.

Ontario's need for housing does not need to be answered with more urban sprawl. Higher densities, in-fill projects, and brownfield redevelopment is the answer. In my GTA community our small downtown is seeing 3 mid-size condo projects under development. In each case under-utilized buildings have been torn down for the new projects. The future effect will be more density, a major boost to our downtowns business district, and without the cost of adding new roads, sewer, and other municipal infrastructure. This is the model we need more of in all communities around the GTA.

Any proposal to remove even a single acre from the greenbelt cannot go forward. This is a dishonest policy change, a lie to the voters of Ontario, and another blow to our environment.