My Family of 5 is against…

My Family of 5 is against the development of the greenbelt land and Bill 23. The Majority of residents do not want development on the greenbelt. There has been no public consultation on this very important Bill.

Developer fees are being transferred to property taxpayers. At Markham Council’s November meeting about Bill 23. Markham staff estimate that Markham taxes will have to rise by 80% to pay for all the new infrastructure if Bill 23 is implemented. Vaughan estimates property taxes will increase 77-88%, Mississauga stated they will have to increase property taxes by 5% each year for the NEXT 10 years. Developers will not reduce the cost to the purchaser. This will provide more profit for the developer. Unfortunately, this is very suspect on who it benefits, as it does not look like it is to help residents of Ontario.

The Ontario PC advisory board has stated that there is enough land for 30 years of growth, why is this government not listening to its advisory board? Growth of 4-plexes and 6-plexes should be encouraged in urban areas. Some of this can and should take place in existing communities, but it must occur in new developments on the white lands that are already approved for development. Dense, liveable, walkable, centers connected to other dense, walkable, walkable centers with greenspace in between. Live, work, and play on the grid.

At the moment municipalities largely leave it to Conservation Authorities to use refusal of permits – and their authority to appeal land use decisions – to ensure that sprawl doesn’t destroy the ecological function of the habitat and water bodies they protect. It is my understanding that is being removed or changed.

Wet Land protection is being removed. Wetlands are productive ecosystems that not only are a place for various plants and animals but also protect other ecosystems.

Wetlands are important because they provide many benefits, including:

Providing habitat for wildlife
Improving water quality and supply
Controlling erosion
Sequestering carbon

Endangered species protection is being removed. Very disturbing and backward thinking.

Over a dozen of Ontario’s most prominent architectural firms issued an open letter to Premier Ford and Minister Clark in response to Ontario’s proposed Bill 23. Bill 23 will reduce the supply of truly affordable housing. Bill 23 will encourage urban sprawl and undermine local democracy. Public participation will be limited by removing the requirement for a public meeting for a plan of subdivision. Bill 23 undermines environmental protection, Bill 23 removes design from the municipal approvals process. Bill 23 threatens the Greenbelt.

If that does not happen then we believe that there should be a criminal investigation into why developers were recently taking out multi-million dollar loans at high-interest rates to purchase greenbelt-protected lands that are now being rezoned to be built on.

Listen to the Ontario residences. Cancel Bill 23 and development on the greenbelt.

The Bruno's