The following is edited from…

The following is edited from comments sent to my MPP

I would like to express my opposition to Bill 23, which is ill-conceived on many levels in my opinion. I appreciate you taking the time to consider my input.

Our agricultural land is finite and food security for a growing population in the face of a changing climate means we must protect Ontario’s agricultural resources.

We do not need more sprawl and removing development charges from developers will only serve to increase costs for municipalities and tax payers both in the short and longer terms as service provision to more densely populated communities is more cost effective.

As I have read, Bill 23 will remove some of the provisions that allow municipalities to enact enhanced building standards (so called Green Building Standards) which are necessary tools that communities can use to to build resilience and sustainability into new development.

Eroding the work that Conservation Authorities do is misguided and Bill 23 only serves to undervalue the efforts of CAs and the value of wetlands, buffer zones and biodiversity which we are more dependent on than we acknowledge.

There are further aspects in Bill 23 that erode our democracy and the ability for citizens, municipalities and regions to advocate and develop in a manner that is more appropriate for their local situation and the centralization of power and the silencing of local voices is unjustified.

Leaders in the Progressive Conservative government have promised on multiple occasions not to allow development in the Greenbelt and it is expected that they will keep their promises. Land swaps are disingenuous in this instance.

What does make sense? Development that promotes infill, density, the more efficient provision of services at lower cost for muncipalities, protection of Ontario’s prime agricultural land and other significant lands such as wetlands and important areas such as the Paris Galt moraine which we rely on for our well-being. Communities that are compact where households don’t have to rely on a car to get basic needs or get to work. Housing that is truly affordable and allows people to live closer to where they work. Building standards that are forward thinking and will help us achieve climate objectives and be more cost effective to operate in the longer term. Policies that promote democracy and the ability and desire of individuals, municipalities and other public organizations that possess expertise such as CAs, to provide input into how our communities are designed.

There are investments and policies that the Government of Ontario can and should make to promote housing, affordability and sustainability. Bill 23 (and highways through the Greenbelt) are short sighted and will undermine the ability of our children to afford to live healthy lives in Ontario.

We have concurrent housing, affordability (for many) and climate/biodiversity crises. Bill 23 will not effectively address the former and will have negative effects on the latter.

Thank-you for your consideration