I am writing out of concern…

I am writing out of concern for the Ontario Government to protect the Greenbelt and therefore introduce a new Bill 66 that stops the attacks on the Greenbelt, Oak Ridge’s Moraine, Lake Simcoe, Source Water Protection Areas and other important protected farm and natural areas to development.

During the election, The Premier of Ontario promised to protect the Greenbelt and your government recently released a “Made in Ontario” Environment Plan which made the same commitment.

Provincial and municipal data show there is enough land already available in our towns and cities for our housing needs up to 2041. There is also a surplus of land for new businesses and we should be encouraging investment in these areas. By building within our existing towns and cities throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe we can increase the supply of affordable housing and jobs in our existing serviced communities while holding firm on urban boundaries.

Protected farmland supplies local food and enhances food security at a time when prices are rising and supplies from other countries are increasingly threatened. Farming is also economically important and provides jobs to thousands. Sprawl onto farmland destroys farm businesses and farm communities. This bill would threaten two million acres of natural areas and farmland across the Greenbelt.

Open-for-business by-laws would override policies in approved source protection plans intended to protect existing and future sources of municipal drinking water from threats such as landfills, sewage systems and improper handling of fuel, manure and pesticides. Open-for-business bylaws would trump requirements set out in the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan.

Bill 66 would allow municipalities across the province to create “open-for-business by-laws” that would trump critical legal requirements to protect water, natural heritage, farmland and human health and well-being. These by-laws would take precedence over municipal official plans.

Open-for-business by-laws would circumvent protections for these important habitats and species set out in the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) under the Planning Act. Open-for-business by-laws would override PPS policies supporting active transportation, affordable housing, green infrastructure and climate resiliency.

Contrary to current legal requirements (Planning Act, Clean Water Act), the by-laws could be passed without any prior public notice, behind closed doors. Community members would not be able to appeal open-for-business by-laws to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Natural areas provide habitat for wildlife, sequester carbon and mitigate climate change, provide recreation and clean our air. Bill 66 proposes to repeal the Toxics Reduction Act, which requires certain industrial facilities to consider ways to reduce the use and emission of toxic chemicals in their operations.

Once gone, farmland and natural areas are gone forever. Please keep your promise and change Bill 66.