Question 1: What are your…

Question 1:
What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of the Study Area of the Paris Galt Moraine?

I support the inclusion of the Paris Galt Moraine but wonder why you have such a limited focus?

Question 2:
What are the considerations in moving from a Study Area to a more defined boundary of the Paris Galt Moraine?

Considerations need to include a science-based approach including hydrogeological recharge zones, to protect headwaters and aquifers. In addition, buffer zones need to be considered to address biodiversity, for example development should be omitted in areas where habitat is conducive to beavers and dam building. Areas with high biodiversity and migratory paths should be protected. Local community and Indigenous awareness should also be taken into consideration.

Question 3:
What are your thoughts on the initial focus area of adding, expanding and further protecting Urban River Valleys?

I agree that Urban River Valleys should be protected and suggest that the entire river valley corridors be designated, rather than only sections flowing through urban areas. A challenge will be how to protect them from privately owned lands. Urbanization that has had a significant impact to the health of river valleys. The loss of natural cover and farmland threatens waterways across the GGH.
To ensure their health and resilience, and to protect residents from flooding, entire river
valley corridors and private lands must be included. This will assist in protecting them from ecosystem and water quality deterioration and water flow imbalances.
Additionally, Urban River Valley designation should be considered for the Nith, Grand, Conestogo, Eramosa, Speed, Nottawasaga, Ganaraska, East Holland and Don Rivers, and Duffins, Carruthers, Twelve Mile, Gages and Cobourg Creeks.

Question 4:
Do you have suggestions for other potential areas to grow the Greenbelt?

There are many areas in the province that require protection, both terrestrially and aquatically. For example, other moraines in the GGH that should be considered are Orangeville Moraine; moraine between Waterloo and Elora/Fergus; Escarpment Area Moraines such as the Gibraltar and Singhampton Moraines; the Horseshoe Moraines that flank the Niagara Escarpment to the north near Clearview.
The following need protection:
Headwater streams, the aforementioned moraines, cold water streams, wetlands – which provide significant benefits but have been depleted by over 85% in Niagara and the GTA- the former Glacial Lake Algonquin and Iroquois Shorelines and Plain, the Lake Simcoe basin and northern Simcoe County. Protecting these areas will provide many benefits including but not limited to clean drinking water, discharge zone protection, habitat protection for endangered species such as brook trout and redside dace, water filtration, flood retention, erosion control, carbon storage, nutrient cycling, groundwater
recharge and discharge areas, wild foods and medicines, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities to name a few.
The headwaters of south flowing stream system within the inner ring of the GGH (the ‘Whitebelt’) are under high development pressures and should be a priority for inclusion (e.g., Humber, Don and Rouge Rivers and Duffins and Carruthers Creeks).

Environment Canada ranked the Iroquois Plain as the number one landscape south of the Shield in Ontario where conservation actions may have the greatest impact. It is home to 57 species at risk, has some of the largest and most extensive coastal wetlands in southern Ontario, and provides
vital habitat for numerous bird species during migration. The Greenbelt already includes parts of the former Lake Algonquin shoreline (within York and Durham Regions) and Lake Iroquois shoreline (within Durham and Niagara Regions); given their hydrological significance it makes sense to add the remainder of these shorelines.
Include the Lake Simcoe basin and northern Simcoe County. Many important hydrologic features in Simcoe County are vulnerable to land speculation and intensive development pressures.

The Ontario Biodiversity Council was reporting on the state of Ontario’s biodiversity, and conservation and sustainable use. However, it appears that the report due in 2020 was never published. This would be a good resource to identify areas that have high biodiversity value and should be protected.
http://sobr.ca/_biosite/wp-content/uploads/SOBR-2015-Summary-Report_E.p…
Optimize and use in-house experts and resources https://www.gisapplication.lrc.gov.on.ca/mamnh/Index.html?viewer=MNR_NH…

I would recommend that the scope of the review be broadened to include the 6E and 7E ecoregions, taking advantage of establishing predevelopment linkages for connectivity and establishing boundaries so developers have a clear understanding of what is off limits before they mass purchase areas on speculation. Urban sprawl and rural developments pressures may increase due to stay-at-home workers.
This publication identifies areas of importance:
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/growourgreenbelt/pages/57/attachm…
The pandemic has exposed many provincial “gaps”, one of which is food security. Agricultural land should be a high priority for protection. It is interesting that the province has not included an agricultural person on their advisory panel. Was this an oversight that will be corrected?

Question 5:
How should we balance or prioritize any potential Greenbelt expansion with the other provincial priorities mentioned above?

It is interesting to note the governments comments: “No consideration of removal requests or land exchanges” and “This proposal is about growing the size and quality of the Greenbelt, and the government will not consider the removal of any lands from the Greenbelt.” “Greenbelt Plan’s objectives, vision and goals of providing permanent protection to the agricultural land base and the ecological and hydrological features, areas and functions occurring on this landscape and providing for the inclusion of publicly owned lands in urban river valleys”.
Will you not follow your own Principles? How do you reconcile the development of 2 highways having significant impact to the greenbelt and agricultural lands? This puts the sincerity of the expansion of the Greenbelt into question. Cancel plans to build Highway 413 (GTA West) and the Bradford Bypass (Holland Marsh Highway). These highways are expensive, not necessary and will permanently damage existing lands within the Greenbelt while also generating significant pressure by developers and municipalities to allow development along
them. There are many other options available to manage the transportation needs of Ontarians that do not require sacrificing vital farmland, natural spaces and water resources.
Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) should not be used to fast-track development on natural areas and farmland. Many benefits are provided by Ontario’s farmland and natural heritage features and areas, including flood control, local food, water purification, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, recreational opportunities and more.
Housing needs of communities in the GGH can be met within lands already designated for development. In all municipal regions except Toronto and Peel growth has been less than projected and there are existing large surpluses of land already available for development.

Question 6:
Are there other priorities that should be considered?

The protection of our biosphere should be every governments priority. It is crucial to address Anthropogenic changes to the planet. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2020.615419/full

The Ontario government should be leaders in addressing this issue along the lines of the current report from the UK in which they
“assess the economic benefits of biodiversity globally
assess the economic costs and risks of biodiversity loss
identify a range of actions that can simultaneously enhance biodiversity and deliver economic prosperity”
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-economics-of-biodiversity…

Protecting natural and hydrological systems of the Greenbelt will provide a level of climate resilience which will help reduce the impacts from climate change, including droughts, flooding, sea level rise, more frequent and destructive storms, global ecosystem decline, loss of biodiversity, food and water scarcity, and increased disease. Examples of local threats include the destruction of infrastructure, privately owned buildings, and resources from severe weather events; delays in business supply chains; reduced reliability of transit and commuting in general, health risks, including the geographic expansion of infectious diseases, and an increase in extreme weather events to name a few.
Disaster costs are increasing and need to be dealt with. Expanding and protecting the Green Belt is a small step in the right direction.
In addition, the province should allow municipalities to address local needs vs imposing MZO’s- especially on sensitive wetlands and agricultural land. LPAT should be returned to its original intent instead of duplicating the OMB.