Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the "Proposed redesignation of land under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan ".

First, I would like to state that I am strongly opposed to the proposed amendments. The Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt were created in 2002 and 2005 in part to prevent the loss of farmland and natural heritage and restrict urban sprawl. The proposed amendments to the Greenbelt are contrary to this mandate and are an insult to years of conservation efforts.

I believe that selectively removing areas from the Oak Ridges Moraines and Greenbelt and using the housing affordability crisis as an excuse is pathetic. There are plenty of solutions to housing affordability in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) which include using existing undeveloped lands outside of the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt, building denser housing, and banning single family zoning in Ontario. Expanding urban/residential land in the GTA only furthers the ability for urban sprawl to continue in Ontario.

The lands protected by the Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt should be protected forever. The proposed amendments should be declined in favour of protecting Ontario's farmland, forests, wetlands, rivers, and lakes.

Thank you,
Mark M