I write to express my…

I write to express my opposition to Bill 23 More Homes Built Faster. Without completing the assessment of the negative impacts to agriculture, flood plains, biodiversity, and climate change the passing of this Bill seems premature. Although this government explicitly stated during the election campaign that the greenbelt lands would not be developed, the need for it is now being laid at the feet of the Federal Liberals - a result of their desire to bring immigrants to Canada. Without doing the analysis to see whether greater housing density on lands already approved for development would accommodate the new residents I do not see how the two can be linked. And I would be interested to know if there was discussion with the Federal Liberals about how all of our immigration goals could be accommodated within our equally important need to reduce our carbon footprint.

Of further concern, it seems that many who now stand to benefit were quite certain that these election promises would be reversed. I am referring to the greenbelt lands purchased by developers since this government was re-elected. To reward these land speculators is to invite more of the same behaviour and can only lead to urban sprawl that has already lost much of the farmland in Ontario.

Forward thinking communities around the world are increasing housing density to create opportunities for people to leverage shopping, entertainment and work that is close to home and accessible via active and public transport. In contrast building on the greenbelt makes our climate change goals less achievable through an ongoing focus on the single-family detached home with the requisite dependency on the car and the inevitable building of more roads.

This bodes ill for all of us that will pay for it through increased taxes (to support the infrastructure and development charges that developers will no longer pay), and reduced food security (as we eat into what little agricultural land we still have in Ontario). It will be left to future governments to take bolder steps that will be needed to achieve carbon reduction targets. It seems that these will not be advanced through the term of this government and that is a shame.