Do not move forward with…

Do not move forward with Bill 66. Bill 66 would destroy all of the hard work the citizens of Ontario have put into protecting, conserving and restoring the natural lands of our province. The actions described in this bill and by the government in general demonstrate blatant disregard for our natural environment. Protecting the environment is not just a joke that can be made, or a liberal stance, or a fun side project to placate the environmentalists, the environment is where we live! If we destroy these lands, we cannot get them back. Our children won’t have green spaces to enjoy and clean air to breathe. As a 22-year-old I am incredibly concerned about what Ontario will look like 20 years from now.

Ontario citizens value and love the outdoor areas that the province provides (i.e. conservation areas, trails, cottage country). We clearly demonstrate that value with our wallets, by paying entry fees, travelling across the province in search of nature-based activities, spending money in surrounding towns (i.e. Dundas, Elora) and investing in real estate with large green spaces and waterbodies nearby. Allowing our green space to be further developed, without public consultation and government accountability, will anger Ontario citizens. Ontario voters will think twice before electing your government a second time. I have many friends who have already left Ontario in search of provinces with more outdoor opportunities and whose governments respect the natural lands that they are responsible for. These friends are intelligent, educated, capable individuals who now will not be contributing to Ontario’s economy. I love Ontario, we have green spaces I can enjoy regularly, we have job opportunities in my field, and we have a thriving economy. Yet, I cannot continue to enjoy living and working in a province with a provincial leadership that is destroying everything I love about it.

You say we need to be ‘open-for-business’ and develop these lands, well as usual there is a better solution. There is a solution that will lead a more sustainable way of life for everyone. Mixed use urban intensification is the key. We have underdeveloped land in the downtown cores of all of Ontario’s cities. Yes, encouraging people to move from a vehicle dependent suburban lifestyle to a biking/walking/transit city lifestyle will take time, but as our leaders you should be making decisions to encourage this process.

It is your responsibility to listen to the science and the future projections of what human societies need to look like in the future if we want to continue to live on this planet. It is your responsibility to protect the health and well-being of your citizens. It is your responsibility to listen to your constituents. NIX BILL 66.