I unequivocally do not…

I unequivocally do not support opening up the Greenbelt for development. This development is entirely unnecessary - there is plenty of land in the GTA not to mention throughout the province more broadly that can be developed or redeveloped while keeping the Greenbelt whole. Any suggestion that the Federal government is forcing the provincial government's hand in this case due to immigration targets is a sad, easily-seen-through excuse. Oh how convenient that responsibility can be pushed to another government body.

This is the opposite of sustainable development. Whenever we feel the cost of living is high, do we take another bite of the Greenbelt? And what will we do when it's all eaten up, and that valuable farmland is forever a brownfield development, that can never be recovered (at least, not at a feasible cost)? We would end up getting more creative with dense and mid-density housing in Toronto and the GTA anyway. So let's just do that now.

Also, even if we can accept the idea that the Greenbelt can be reduced (though we cannot accept this) the way it has been handled here is abhorrent. Why should a small number of developers, many of them close to Doug Ford and in his inner circle, stand to profit massively from this convenient change in legislation? If this is all about more affordable housing, what does this massive opportunity for a small number of already wealthy individuals and corporations to profit have to do with anything? Even if there is no corruption here, the perception of corruption is so obvious, so odious, I find it hard to imagine any responsible government would ever deign to even think about pursuing this line of action. It is not only poor policy, it is stupid, shortsighted policy. This will be remembered as a black stain in the history of Ontario governance.

Now that the Greenbelt is at least theoretically open for development, farming land, even that which is currently protected from development, will be open to speculative investment and purchasing. This is bad for farmers and for farming in Ontario. Any future protection to green space is suspect. The next government may just toss that aside at its whim. This will drive up the price of farming land and make it more difficult to operate as a farmer in this province.

Though what I've said above is certainly sufficient, it also cannot be forgotten that the Conservative Government promised, before being elected, that the Greenbelt would not be touched. That lack of principles, that willingness to go back on promises at the earliest convenience, will not be forgotten. How can this government be trusted in the future? What do its promises mean anymore?

The Greenbelt's place as land beyond the reach of development has been tossed aside and can never be restored. This government's credibility has been severely damaged. The single family homes that will apparently be built in the Greenbelt will not in any meaningful way be truly affordable or make a dent in Ontario's affordability crisis. Other alternatives do exist, but have been ignored. All this, and for what? For a few already wealthy corporations to profit? How embarrassing.