I have had the pleasure of…

I have had the pleasure of living in Pickering, an area surrounded by the Greenbelt, for the entire 21 years of my life. The Greenbelt has been a place where I can take time to enjoy nature, connect with friends, and grow. I have also experienced the many benefits that the Greenbelt provides, such as flood mitigation, biodiversity, clean surface waters and drinking water from groundwater wells and clean air. The decision to form the Greenbelt was not done without thought. In 2005, it was formed with consideration of how ecosystems work, and how our water bodies form. The removal of the 15 areas of land, totalling 7,400 acres, would remove the harmony and synergy that currently exists within the Greenbelt. The following are my concerns:

- The removal of the lands would allow for further expansion of the Greenbelt in the future. Where does this end.
- We will face an increase in flooding, erosion, and air quality will get worse
- Green areas close to urban centres are being lost quickly to development, and this furthers it
- the mental health of residents near the Greenbelt will worsen

There are many areas allocated for development within Ontario, yet they are not being used efficiently.

The addition of the 9,400 acres within the Paris Galt area does not equal what is being lost. This is an attack on the Greenbelt and the people of Ontario. The democracy that you claim to facilitate is nothing more than a show. Listen to what THE PEOPLE OF ONTARIO are saying, rather than your developer buddies that will make hundreds of thousands from this amendment. Do the right thing.