While many of the aims and…

While many of the aims and goals of the "Proposed framework for provincially significant employment zones" are beyond my areas of detailed knowledge and expertise, I do have one significant concern that I can and must address. This involves the "Proposed Amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017". Specifically, the proposed framework removes Section 4.2.10 of "The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe" (Approved by the Lt. Governor in Council, Order in Council No. 102/ 2017), entitled "Climate Change." Section 4.2.10 requires municipalities "...to develop policies in their official plans to identify actions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change adaptation goals..."
It is clear that human induced climate change is already harming and will continue to harm hugely important areas of the Ontario economy, including forestry, agriculture, transportation, and infrastructure, among others. Municipalities often bear the brunt of such harms (eg. recent episodes of storm flooding in Toronto) and are leading the way in attempting to avoid and/or mitigate them. It is economically counterproductive to remove the incentive and onus for municipalities, both single- and double-tier, to plan for these harmful impacts. Ignoring climate change will not make this problem go away, and discouraging efforts to plan for its reduction and mitigation will ultimately exacerbate the resulting economic damage.
In conclusion, section 4.2.10 of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe must be left intact.