I am opposed to any removal…

I am opposed to any removal of lands from within the Greenbelt protected boundary. However, I support any addition to Greenbelt lands by expanding the boundaries. Farmland and natural areas provide vital ecosystem services to keep urban areas healthy and prosperous. Any loss or fragmentation of this land reduces the amount of the services they provide and the resilience of the urban areas to future extremes.

In particular, I oppose any shrinking or fragmentation of Greenbelt lands in Ontario. Healthy and prosperous communities depend on these lands and waters for food, clean air and water, healthy soils and recreation. As well these areas provide huge amounts of carbon storage, and carbon sequestration potential. The current and future resilience of urban communities depend on their continued existence. Any losses or fragmentation of natural areas and farmland reduces their ability to provide the billions of dollars of ecosystem services that they currently deliver.
I recommend that current Greenbelt lands remain protected and that the boundaries be expanded so that more services are available for the expected growing population
I oppose the practice of 'offsetting'. Every time a mature wetland, woodland, waterway or meadow is disturbed or destroyed, thousands to millions of tonnes of carbon are released into the atmosphere. All the future capability of that natural feature to absorb carbon is lost. Not to mention the loss of other ecosystem services that area provides. A newly manufactured and/or immature wetland, timber plantation or meadow is very poor, sometimes even negative carbon sequester compared to a mature natural area. We need to retain the services we have, both for life support and for climate mitigation and adaptation.
I recommend that all current existing wetland, forests, waterways and meadows be protected and enhanced with buffers.
I oppose any reduction in public input. There are thousands of knowledgeable people in Ontario who understand the value of the ecosystem services that natural features and farmland provide. There are millions more who love the natural areas near and far from their homes for the beauty and recreation they provide. They appreciate without understanding the mental and physical relaxation these areas provide and they benefit from the ecosystem services without perhaps fully appreciating where these services come from. People also prefer to live in walkable communities without having to commute hundreds of kilometres a week for work and shopping. These people should have a say in how we develop our housing stock in Ontario.
I recommend that the public be heard and taken seriously when they defend the Greenbelt.
In conclusion, I oppose any shrinkage or fragmentation of the Greenbelt. I support boundary expansion for the Greenbelt in order to grow our protection for the services provided by natural features of all types and by farmland. And I support the enhancement of our Environmental Bill of Rights so that the public has a greater say in how our land is developed.