First, let's get the…

First, let's get the elephant out of the room - this government promised last year to expand the Greenbelt and in Minister Steve Clark's words "We’re not going to entertain any conversations about a land swap" and "Our government will not consider any proposals to remove or develop any part of it". The promised amendments make these statements nothing short of a lie.

I staunchly oppose any efforts to develop on our pristine and ecologically important protected countrysides and natural heritage ecosystems as designated in the Greenbelt Plan. While the province is facing increased pressure to build more homes, there is no reason to build on top of valuable ecological lands. There is an abundance of undeveloped land outside of areas designated in the Greenbelt Plan that could be built on. Efforts should also be focused on building upwards not outwards – densification as opposed to advancing urban sprawl.

The idea that the negative impacts of removing the Greenbelt lands will be offset by adding lands to the Paris Galt Moraine is a complete fallacy. The environment comprises of interconnected ecosystems to provide essential ecological services to humans and wildlife. It is maintaining the connectively and range of these protected countryside and natural heritage ecosystems that is so vital. By the same token of adding Greenbelt lands to the Paris Galt Moraine to promote “recharge to the groundwater aquifers that support drinking water supply, local ecosystems, agriculture, and growth management, and more,” the same will be degraded in the 11 areas where which Greenbelt protected lands will be developed upon. The fragmentation of the Greenbelt across its range will result in a severe loss of biodiversity, groundwater recharge services, water decontamination services, erosion control, flood prevention and resiliency, agricultural support, and access to nature that simply cannot be offset by adding Greenbelt lands in a singular area.

In the face of impending environmental threats such as climate change, increased intensity and frequency of storms, heat waves, wildfires, and natural disasters, the ubiquitous spread of contaminants, the hyper-extensive loss of biodiversity and natural environments, can important decision makers in this government really look at themselves in the mirror and say they left the world a better place for their children and grandchildren through proposed amendments such as this one?