I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed removal of lands from the Greenbelt. Ontario voters have made it clear time and time again that we do not support new development on the Greenbelt. This legislation goes against the will of voters and against commitments that Premier Ford has made in the past regarding the protection of the Greenbelt.
We can meet housing targets AND protect the environmentally significant lands that ensure a healthy future for residents of Ontario.

Housing goals should be met by maximizing density in existing urban and suburban settlements, where civic services already exist and can be expanded upon. I do not see that the Greenbelt Plan’s commitment to protecting prime agricultural land, hydrologically important areas, and wildlife habitat is upheld by the proposed changes, notwithstanding the claim that the overall size of the Greenbelt is being increased. The slow erosion of the Greenbelt by the proposed changes undermines the integrity of the Plan and risks increased weakening of regulation in the future. It also literally paves the way for more and more sprawl into prime agricultural land, instead of prioritizing the maximization of density in existing settlements.