It is my opinion that the…

It is my opinion that the proposed changes by the current government of Ontario would sow disastrous environmental consequences on the city of Toronto and larger region of southern Ontario. The greenbelt, including its forests and marshes, are ecological air and water filters. These ecosystems also provide natural flood barriers and reduce the risk of flooding. If these forests and marshes are destroyed, the loss of a natural flood prevention mechanism and loss of diversity will be catastrophic, both on the surrounding ecosystem and for the homes and businesses surrounding.

Further, the destruction of marshes and forests releases an immense amount of green house gas into the atmosphere, as these ecosystems are natural carbon sinks. Removing them from the green belt and destroying them will negate Ontario's goal to become a greener province.

I believe that the proposed removal should not move forward, and more land should be added to the green belt regardless. To accommodate the additional housing needs of the GTA, zoning laws should be altered to allow for mid-rise housing in areas immediately surrounding downtown, such that the skyline becomes a gradient (e.g. single family to mid-rise to high-rise) when viewed on a map.