I am _appalled_ by the…

I am _appalled_ by the proposals of Bill 23, and I oppose it vehemently.

Opening up any part of the Greenbelt for development is a terrible idea and it's absolutely unnecessary for building more housing. The way to solve the housing shortage is by building up, not building out. That's how you keep housing affordable. There is plenty of land already available for such development that is outside of the Greenbelt, including areas that are close to existing infrastructure.

Bill 23 is undemocratic, as it guts municipalities' ability to make their own planning decisions and undermines the ability of conservation authorities to advise municipalities on environmental safety. Do not impose uncontrolled sprawl, especially on places that have committed to smart development.

Chipping away at any part the protected Greenbelt will set a dangerous precedent and lead to the wanton destruction of environmentally sensitive areas and wildlife habitats that are already under so much pressure. In the process, housing development in the Greenbelt would actually make the areas less livable for everyone, with immediate negative impacts on the region's supply of clean drinking water, as well as fewer green spaces for recreation, fewer sources of locally grown food, and more hazards from environmental disasters such as flooding.

The Greenbelt was established for a reason, and the Ford government has pledged to leave it alone. The same goes for the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve. Greenbelt borders should not be subject to the whims of developers' greed for new land. "Protected" means "protected."

A resounding NO to BILL 23.