I am fully AGAINST this…

I am fully AGAINST this proposal.

Having a background in health sciences, public health, nutrition, dietetics, as well as agriculture research on provincial and federal levels, this will have more negative economic consequences that were not measured at all in this proposal. There was no consultation with public health, experts in medicine or social assistance services.

These proposals will take away local food that is more affordable in lieu of expensive housing. The housing crisis cannot be addressed by adding to the food insecurity we are seeing in our province. Affordable housing is a concern in Ontario, but that can be solved with providing incentives for builders to build where there is non-workable land further north. The overpopulation of these areas is already contributing to housing issues and social services that are already stretched.

Housing is a social issue that is not addressed through major profits that exist for putting more people in an already stressed, populate-dense geographic location. Public health concerns have to do with planning. The amount of extra resources that will be required while removing access to local, affordable food will end up as a huge cost to the tax payers in just a few years time. The municipalities get tax dollars for supporting more people, yet the social systems are a provincial concern. So of course they want more people, you will give them more money/funding. But crowding will never be solved with more money.

With every criticism must come offered solutions in order to be effective. Therefore, I propose that instead of removing critical land to help our environment (air, food, water, etc), give incentives to builders to build housing in underpopulated areas above Vaughan. There is tons of land and "if you build it, they will come". Affordable living is important and businesses will flock to where they can operate at a lower cost. Giving in to builders who will profit fully from building in these areas and then leave the environmental and social impacts to the government, you are creating a future problem and kicking the can down the street. Cities like Bogota, Columbia have made it about people and healthy living instead of pleasing the few that can own cars. If you truly want to be voted in, you will serve the majority of people for not what they ask for in immediate needs, but building a society and communities that secure a healthy, livable space.