I oppose Bill 23 on the…

I oppose Bill 23 on the basis of its environmental impact, and because it reduces the checks and balances provided by municipalities and environmental groups.

I appreciate that the process to build requires streamlining and that more affordable homes need to be made available. This should not be done by reducing municipal input and environmental protection.

How does this plan ensure that the people who require affordable homes actually benefit? Who defines affordability? Is it a home that is affordable if you’re working 40 hours per week at a minimum wage job? The ‘rising cost of groceries’ has led to record profits by major grocery chains; what are the checks and balances to ensure that developers do not also achieve record profits at the expense of the environment and current residents of Ontario? Or that the wealthy do not buy up more properties that they then rent out? How does this plan support the National Housing Strategy?

My understanding is the First Nations Leaders are opposed to this act, and were also not consulted before it was made public. In this time of Truth and Reconciliation, this is unacceptable.

Who is responsible for comparing the environmental impact of shifting the protected lands from the current greenbelt to the Paris-Galt Moraine area? Will those results be shared?

Does it not make sense to build in the areas that are not currently under environmental protection? Use properties already designated as residential, mixed use lands and create hubs (as opposed to urban sprawl) to achieve housing goals.

In the interest of transparency, have any of the developers that currently own property protected by the Greenbelt made donations to support the Conservative party?

In summary, I oppose Bill 23 for its irreparable harm to currently protected lands, and for its reduction of municipal and environmental controls.