I am against the proposed…

I am against the proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Area boundary regulation.

The provincial government hasn't released any evidence demonstrating its plan for the Greenbelt would actually be good for the environment.

The provincial government is going back on years of promises to leave it intact.

This decision threatens the stability and certainty of the Greenbelt and it undermines its permanency.

One area of the Greenbelt includes land that’s part of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, which the province has recently watered down protections for.

Existing evidence shows Greenbelt changes likely won’t be a net benefit to the environment — and the government hasn’t released proof that it will.

Another thing to consider is the importance of habitat connectivity. Water flows and animals migrate. Experts say you can’t just draw a line around a piece of land, say it’s protected and assume it will all work out — how that land is connected to what’s around it will also define how successful conservation efforts there might be.

Connectivity was top of mind when the Greenbelt was designed. Though the legislation that created it may technically permit land swaps, it was never intended to allow them because the land it protects was intentionally chosen.

Lack of land isn’t the reason for Ontario’s housing crisis, and more than enough has already been set aside for development.
Ontario isn't using the land it has efficiently.

If the Ontario government has evidence as to why removing 7,400 acres of the Greenbelt is a good idea, it hasn’t shown its work.