Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to submit my comments about Growing the Size of the Greenbelt. I am extremely disappointed that the current proposal does not include any portion of the Paris Galt Moraine, but instead proposes expansion only to protect public land in several tiny Urban River Valleys in the GTHA.
I wholeheartedly support the proposal to expand the Greenbelt as shown in the map created through the work of the Greenbelt West Coalition (link provided). This expansion is urgently required in order to protect water, farmland and natural spaces that are not adequately protected to the west of the existing Greenbelt. Due to the lack of cohesive protection it is critically important to expand the Greenbelt to include the Paris Galt Moraine and the entire Grand River Watershed including tributaries such as the Eramosa, Speed and Nith Rivers. Changes that weakened the role and responsibilities of the Conservation Authorities in water source protection, flooding mitigation and planning/development are additional reasons that significant expansion of Greenbelt protection is necessary.
While housing is essential to quality of life, people need more than just housing to survive. As population growth happens, development pressure increases but at the same time the climate is changing. Mountains of scientific evidence shows that the frequency and the intensity of storms, flooding and periods of drought will increase in the future - this change is already happening. Expanded Greenbelt protection cannot wait. Unlike the GTA, the population of the Grand River Watershed relies almost entirely on ground water and the rivers - extremely vulnerable to contamination and dramatically impacted by storms, floods and drought. It is important to recognize that the Grand River Watershed drains into Lake Erie and the health of the Great Lakes is critical too.
Protection of source water is critical, but we also need to protect agricultural land to support local food sources and our economy. We already know how critical local sources are. The Grand River Watershed has some of the best soils in all of Ontario. Green spaces and wetlands are necessary to sequester carbon and help us to remain healthy.
Once land is paved, we lose farmland forever and recharge is no longer possible.
Recharge from the headwaters, countless creeks, streams and springs all throughout the watershed provides clean water that is essential for people, farming and industry. Recharge is critical to the health of the river and all of us who depend on it. I have included a photo of the Grand River north of Paris. Walking along the river on a spring day, it is easy to see the recharge in process. There are streams of water flowing into the river all along it. This Place Matters to me, my family and my community.