I have numerous concerns…

I have numerous concerns with this proposed legislation. The first being that the Premier said during the election that he would not open the Greenbelt for development. He is breaking his word, which is shameful.

My next concern is that prior governments decided that the Greenbelt lands were worth protecting from development. Are the subject lands no longer worth protection? Ontario is a very large province, encouraging people to live in areas farther from the GTHA might actually help smaller centers grow and thrive.

I reside in an area that draws water from the Paris-Galt moraine. If all the land over the moraine is paved, there is no way for rain water to get into the ground and recharge the aquifer. This same principal must apply to other areas. If we pave over valuable farmland or wetlands we are degrading our environment and increasing our dependence on food brought in from foreign regions. All of these actions do not improve Ontario's ability to be resilient to challenges like pandemics and climate change.

Please don't open the Greenbelt for development. There has to be a better way to increase housing stock.