To whom it may concern, I…

To whom it may concern,

I strongly oppose this policy change and its implications for the Ontario Greenbelt. As a Millenial who has been unable to afford a home, I agree there is a housing crisis in Ontario. But removing land from the Greenbelt is not the solution. The land being removed from the Greenbelt includes ecologically sensitive wetlands - not only do these areas play an important role in flood prevention, once they are gone they cannot be replaced. Moreover, the proposed land substitution is not equivalent to the land that is being lost. Much of the proposed substitution areas (the Urban River Valleys, for example) are already protected by municipal designations, and as such, this bill represents a lose-lose situation: the Greenbelt loses ecologically sensitive land, and there is not a net increase in protected areas. Moreover, the proposed additions cover only a small fraction of the Paris Galt Moraine area, and do not sufficiently cover this watershed to provide true protection.

Protecting land in the Greenbelt is fundamental to preserving threatened ecosystems, endangered species, and ensuring there is enough agricultural land to support the population of Ontario with local food. I strongly urge you not to pass this bill, and to find other solutions to Ontario's housing problems.

Thank you for your time.