RE: ERO 019-3136 – Growing…

RE: ERO 019-3136 – Growing the Greenbelt

Q1: What are my thoughts on initial focus area of the Study Areas of the Paris Galt Moraine?

Good START! In need of broader focus. Moraines are vital to ensuring sufficient and clean ground water—for drinking, sustaining local ecosystems—and for green infrastructure benefits they provide ... So all other moraines in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) should be considered for adding as well. This is a great opportunity to protect them—please do it.

Q2: What are the considerations in moving from a Study Area to a more defined boundary of the Paris Galt Moraine?

Nature’s needs: A comprehensive, science-based approach—free of political/developer pressures.
Think total system—protecting headwaters and groundwater aquifers ...

Q3: What are my thoughts on the initial focus area of adding, expanding and further protecting Urban River Valleys?

Yes! All of the above: add, expand, further protect URVs by Greenbelt designation—good move!
Go with the flow: Rivers run thru private lands as well public—and it’s those private lands within URVs that are in severe threat of development in spite of environmental consequences. Designate entire river valley corridors to adequately protect these precious waterway resources. Include URVs in GGH, as well as shorelines of urban cold water streams [e.g. Twelve Mile Creek] and provincially significant wetland systems [e.g. Frenchmen’s Creek] ... [Both close to my heart, here in Niagara.]

Q4: Do I have suggestions for other potential areas to grow the Greenbelt?

Yes! Think connectivity corridors. Extend Greenbelt into the broader Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) to safeguard long-term ecological integrity, social well-being and economic prosperity.

Yes! Northern shore of Lake Erie (“Ontario’s South Shore” as the locals promote it)—a hotspot of biodiversity (21 Species at Risk: 8 plants, 8 birds, 4 snakes, 1 mammal)—under extreme development pressure, lacking any meaningful, mandatory, systematic protection. [See Bert Miller Nature Club Ecological Survey of Lake Erie Coast in Ecodistrict 7E-5 ... With project partners including Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Royal Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls Nature Club, Niagara Frontier Botanical Society of Buffalo, New York ... A model of international cooperation supporting stewardship of a shared ecosystem!]

Yes! Niagara—richer in plant and animal species than almost any place in Canada—in trouble!
Even our Carolinian forests and provincially significant wetlands are falling prey to development. Not being included in the Greenbelt has been the ‘excuse’ for denying the level of protection needed to stop losing forever what makes Niagara so special—85% of PSWs are already gone! Please look at ways to grow it here!

Q5: How should we balance or prioritize any potential Greenbelt expansion with the other provincial priorities mentioned above?

* Set environmental protection as first priority— no balancing act.
* Protect natural heritage, water resource systems and farmland as priority— period.
* All else—support for all provincial priorities—will follow.

* Stop sacrificing sensitive natural areas or farmland to roads and housing developments.
* Implement incentives to re/develop brownfields and commercial areas for mixed communities.
* Figure out a way to HELP farmers ensure farmland keeps growing FOOD—not subdivisions.

* Capitalize on the economic benefits of green infrastructure: flood control, local food, water purification, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation ... via Mother Nature’s wetlands.

* Allow municipalities to establish policies that go above and beyond Greenbelt levels, where more restrictive policies are necessary to protect water quality and quantity— e.g. with respect to aggregate extraction.

* Keep your promise not to remove lands from the Greenbelt— Cancel Hwy 413 (GTA West) and Bradford Bypass (Holland Marsh Highway)!

Q6. Are there other priorities that should be considered?

Climate resilience: Mother Nature’s solutions. Maintaining wetlands significantly reduces flood damages and related costs — by 29% in rural areas and 38% in urban areas.

Health & well-being: Greenbelt expansion will positively impact the quality of our air, water, and local food. It will ‘grow’ access to nature for current and future generations—recreational getaways /escapes near our towns and cities—with documented benefits of physical activity / fitness, better cognitive functioning, improved immune system, greater resilience to stress, more positive social interactions and generally increased happiness ... as COVID has taught us!

Tourism: Greenbelt expansion will also boost tourism by connecting communities along natural routes via cycling networks/loops. (e.g. from Great Lakes Waterfront Trail to Niagara Greenbelt.)

Thank you for this opportunity to provide input into this worthwhile endeavor!