While I recognize the need…

While I recognize the need for housing in our province, I cannot agree with the dissolution of current green space. The notion of expanding our cities outwards, is simplistic and rudimentary with no foresight. Cities all over the world house millions of people in more geographically constrained areas. Why aren't we building up instead of out? Why are we neglecting the economy of northern regions of Ontario like Thunder Bay, areas that are desperate for jobs and population growth. Move the development and investment up there, people will follow.
I have grown up in the GTA my whole life. In recent years I have moved out of the GTA because the disappearing green space and irresponsible development has made it an increasingly unappealing place to live. Driving north down highway 10, the city takes longer to get out of, and the drive has become uglier and uglier. On the weekends people flock to get out of the city and into nature. What does that say about the communities being built, that people are so desperate to leave? I live in Ottawa now where one of the greatest assets of this community is the greenbelt, the trails and the access to nature. The government should be adding that investment in green space full stop, it's not a give and take. It's not, here's some more green space so you don't notice the habitat that was destroyed while you weren't looking... We're looking, and we're voting.