I support expanding the…

I support expanding the Greenbelt to protect more of Ontario’s natural heritage and I fully support passing Mike Schreiner’s Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act Private Member’s Bill that has been sitting in committee since 2019.

Urban planning and development must be undertaken with a longer-term vision of climate resilience. We need to develop using modern best practices that are based on good environmental science. This requires vision and the political will in order to truly permit only development that respects all of our green spaces.

The Greenbelt creates almost $10 billion in activity and supports over 177,000 local-full time equivalent jobs. It is also an integral component of our province’s food security.

I believe any Greenbelt expansion needs to include and protect ecologically sensitive areas; all wetlands, moraines, marshes, and urban river valleys.

In addition, ‘white belt’ areas north of the 407 should be added to the Greenbelt. These lands are an integral part of the headwaters of the Carruthers Creek and Duffins Creek wetland complexes and must not be exploited for political or economic gain.

You cannot expand the Greenbelt while at the same time plan the destruction of wetlands and farmland. I do not support a ‘give and take’ approach and am very concerned that this process is simply a smokescreen for further environmental destruction at the hands of your government.

It’s also important that any expansion be undertaken with meaningful consultation with Indigenous chiefs as part of their treaty rights.

If you really are concerned about Ontario’s greenspaces, you would certainly cancel Highway 413 and the Bradford bypass and stop forcing through environmentally destructive legislation such as Schedule 3 of Bill 257.
There is strong evidence that Highway 413 which was rejected by the previous government because of its poor cost-benefit and environmental analyses is being considered more for political gain, rather than the benefit of Ontarians. Ref. 1.
Before undertaking these projects, independent environmental assessments need to be completed and weighed in by the public.
There are existing highways that could be utilized in better ways to absorb vehicular traffic volumes.
Constructing new highways for little civic benefit is a step backwards in urban planning and will only add to congestion, carbon emissions and urban sprawl. Ref 2.

I look forward to participating in further consultations about growing the Greenbelt in a way that works for the future, resiliency, and sustainability of a greener Ontario.

Thank you,