The greenbelt is a critical…

I am a high school student in Vaughan and am very concerned about the future of the natural environment in Southern Ontario, which is directly linked to my own future and that of Ontario's younger generations.

The greenbelt is a critical part of Southern Ontario that should not be used as a tool for providing cheap land for certain groups to develop. The land addition is highly welcome, provided that it is not in any way established at the expense of other Greenbelt land. The Greenbelt was introduced to limit unnecessary urban sprawl and protect farmland, which is disappearing at an alarming rate in Ontario, as well as forests, wetlands, and other ecologically important areas. It provides clean drinking water for millions of Ontarians, as well as fresh produce and invaluable mental health support. I agree that Ontario has a housing problem, but removing any protected land at all is neither a sustainable nor a viable solution. Urban sprawl should not be an excuse for stripping protections of Greenbelt lands.

Thank you!