While I agree that…

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019-6217

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62578

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While I agree that protecting the Galt Paris Moraine area is wise in terms of protecting the ground water source, there is an issue of fairness. Property rights that owners of those properties enjoy today will no longer be available to them once the boundaries are changed. This is a "good" that will be enjoyed by the broader population of the Province at the expense of those current landowners. What is the expense? Currently some of them have the right to apply for a severance of their property to create a new parcel of land. For some this may be to allow a child or a loved one to acquire the land needed to construct a new dwelling. It will also prevent the construction of a second or accessory dwelling unit on the property. Again, we are talking about the need for affordable housing, and taking away the opportunity for individuals (not big developers) to provide a range of housing for their families.
I see two potential remedies.
First, compensate the property owners who will be affected. Establish the value of the lost property rights and have the province (or the developers who will benefit from their lands being removed from the Greenbelt) pay compensation.
Second, determine what level of restriction is really necessary to protect the groundwater supplies, if this is the rationale. Perhaps an individual severance or the construction of a second dwelling on the property would not be judged to have a detrimental effect, and could be allowed, while preventing large scale development. Large scale developments are not possible in this area at the current time, so losing this is not as important to the individual property owner, but it is more important in terms of protecting the water supply.
Please think carefully before implementing this change.