I would like to take this…

I would like to take this opportunity to comment on Bill 136 and the Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act 2023.

First I would like to thank the Premier, the Province and its leadership in recognizing when an incorrect decision has been made, and then humbling itself before all Ontarians and committing to undo the 2022 Greenbelt and related decisions.

While I advocate that all lands formerly removed or re-designated from the Greenbelt be returned and further protected with the provisions of the new Act, I want to specifically address two properties, referred to the "Cline Road" and "502 Winston Road" lands in the Town of Grimsby.

While the municipality stood to take in significant sums of money should the original developments proceeded as was planned, this is not justification for the municipality to somehow get "exceptions" on these two Greenbelt lands and thus modify the provisions of the new Act, and the intent of the Province and legislature.

Being a small Town with a mix of suburban and agricultural lands, Grimsby residents are very attune and protective of the greenspaces and the Greenbelt, in our community. When the property at 502 Winston Road was initially applying for re-designation from "Specialty Crop Area - Tender Fruit and Grape Lands" to a "Rural Area" through the local public planning process, a large number of residents and many organizations came to speak out against this proposal. If they did not support it then, they certainly would not support it now.

Of further consideration is how the lands at 502 Winston Road also became re-designated under the 2022 Greenbelt changes. The Province's Integrity Commissioner identified that process from his understanding in paragraphs 472 through 481 in his report of August 30, 2023. When one of the principals of the corporation, whose name shall be withheld, owning the lands was questioned about how that property was redesignated from Specialty Crop to "Towns/Villages", a bizarre story arose of the individual not knowing how it happened, the IC confronting them with a signed letter and the individual then claiming that a staff member of theirs had issued the correspondence in their name and digital signature, without their knowledge.

Further this individual cites a previous (2016) municipal request of Grimsby Council which attempted to have the vast chunk of "Special Crop - Tender Fruit and Grape Lands" along Lake Ontario removed from the Greenbelt. The environmental studies undertaken by the municipality at that time, ahead of that 2016 request have been questioned by many and raise the prospect they were "cooked" by the consultants to support a subjective rather than objective view of these lands. That request was denied in the Greenbelt Review process.

That same municipal request encompassed a much larger area including the 502 Winston lands. However, it was only the 502 Winston lands that were removed in 2022, which only leads to more questions if the individual relies upon that as the reason why those lands were redesignated.

While this developer may be still offering the Town millions of dollars, I firmly believe that you cannot get "good money" from a "bad decision", nor would it be appropriate for the Town to entertain this development given the questionable circumstances from which the lands were re-designated.

The Town, through a resolution passed on October 16, 2023, is now taking the position to engage their Staff, legal consultants, MMAH and the PLDF to somehow prevent the lands at 502 Winston and Cline Road from returning to their previous Greenbelt protected status. That resolution, which unfortunately is not in hard copy at this time due to it being brought up last minute at the October 16th meeting, essentially focuses on financial motivation for requesting for these exemptions/exceptions.

No public input was or has been invited, nor does the passed resolution consider environmental aspects of the lands. The resolution also deems these lands "uncontroversial", which I submit, by local interest and the fact they were part of this initial 2022 Greenbelt process, are as controversial as any of the other 13 parcels being returned.

Additionally, the Region of Niagara in accordance with its 2022 Official Plan exercise demonstrated through a Land Needs Assessment that Grimsby did not require any new lands to accommodate growth through 2051 (attached) and resultingly no Settlement Area expansion was required in Grimsby. The proponents at 502 Winston Road have previously indicated they would like the urban boundary to be expanded to include their lands, yet their position is not supported by the work carried out pursuant to the 2022 Regional Official Plan.

In closing, by way of the promises by Premier Ford and Minister Calandra to restore the 15 parcels of land previously removed/re-designated from the Greenbelt, if any parcel, including the two in Grimsby, are not restored to their previous designations, it would simply represent another broken a promise to Ontario residents. However, I have confidence that the legislature will fully carry out its intentions and honor the word it has given to Ontario residents.

As such, I would respectfully request that the Province not consider any exceptions or exemptions to the 15 parcels being fully returned to their previous protected status, as provided for in Bill 136. If these parcels are ever to be considered for removal/redesignation, it should be through the transparent and public process the Province has stipulated will occur for any future changes to the Greenbelt or other sensitive and protected lands.