Please approve Waterloo…

Please approve Waterloo Region's Official Plan Amendment 6.

Why?

ROPA 6 does a better job of keeping farmland from being paved over than the Province's planning guidelines. If the Region had followed the Province's planning guidelines, 5656 acres of farmland would have been lost forever. Regional Official Plan Amendment 6 reduced the farmland loss to 1126 acres. It is not in anyone's best interest to force Waterloo Region to pave over MORE farmland than is necessary. Indeed, local farmland means locally produced food; given the supply-chain problems we have witnessed over the past two years, it makes sense to produce and buy food at the local level.

If Ontario is serious about lowering greenhouse gas emissions, then Ontario should NOT encourage (or, in this case, mandate) building outside of city limits. Building INSIDE city limits is one of the best ways to lower GHG emissions because it reduces traffic emissions, the biggest source of GHGs in Waterloo Region.

Finally, the approval of ROPA 6 shows a respect for LOCAL DEMOCRACY, as all but ONE of our 17 elected representatives voted for the Regional Official Plan Amendment 6. It is not in your best interest to show such disdain for the democratic process.

Regards,

An Ontarian who grew up on a farm, who takes the climate crisis seriously, and who will fight for democracy to maintain justice in society, wherein the rights of ALL are respected.