Permanently protecting lands…

Permanently protecting lands and waters within the Greenbelt is key to maintaining and improving the resiliency of local food systems and the physical, social and economic health of the nine million Ontarians living in the GGH. Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of human prosperity and will become increasingly important for building climate resilience.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made these facts clearer than ever before. Since the pandemic started, we all rely even more on Greenbelt-protected natural areas for our mental and physical health. We appreciate even more the Greenbelt-protected farmland and farmers who supply us with healthy local food and jobs. And we are profoundly grateful that Greenbelt-protected water resources provide a clean and secure water supply.

We note and support the government’s stated intent to engage with Indigenous communities before any amendments are made, and trust that this will involve meaningful consultation that honours and is informed by the responsibilities, rights, interests and Traditional Knowledge of these communities.

We also appreciate the government’s stated intent not to consider the removal of any lands from the Greenbelt during this expansion exercise. For years, developers and land speculators have been asking the provincial government to change the Greenbelt boundary to remove their land from Greenbelt protection. In some cases, they suggest that other lands elsewhere be reclassified as Greenbelt lands so that the total Greenbelt area is maintained. This would set an irreversible, dangerous precedent and make farmland less affordable. If it were to happen, the Greenbelt would cease to be a meaningful, permanent protection mechanism.

While I support, in principle, the plan to include the Paris Galt Moraine and additional Urban River Valleys in the Greenbelt, I believe the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) must be more ambitious in its approach to Greenbelt expansion if it intends to protect precious farmland, groundwater and natural areas in the GGH from development and build the region’s resilience to climate change.

I fully support the attached letter from 48 organizations with significant expertise in this area and constructive comments for your consideration.