I am horrified that the…

I am horrified that the Ontario government has rammed through a bill that will see a swath of our protected greenbelt be used for building. Disguising this as an opportunity to build more affordable housing when in turn it will only create more urban scrawl, longer commutes (on Highways that the Ontario government wants to build through more farmland and important wetlands) and more single family $1 000 000 homes instead of creating real affordable housing for those most at need. In turn Bill 23 will be damaging our watersheds and destroying farmland. This at a time when our planet is facing catastrophic climate events that stem from the very actions that Mr. Ford is proposing. Why? So that big developers, who have made substantial donations to the Ontario P.C. party can make money. It is a worrisome trend that, despite investigations carried out by media outlets revealed some of these purchases of greenbelt land were carried out shortly before Bill 23 was brought into effect, the Ontario government has been able to proceed so swiftly and with no new environmental consultation. I support the NDP call for asking Ontario's Auditor General to investigate these land sales and the Green Party's call for an investigation by Ontario's integrity commissioner. I would also like to see an independent audit done by various independent environmental agencies in consultation with affected First Nation communities. We cannot let such an important decision with possible catastrophic consequences proceed unchecked. Once the bulldozers move in it will be too late.