The Greenbelt is a critical…

The Greenbelt is a critical piece of Ontario's natural infrastructure. A large, contiguous Greenbelt provides flood protection and support ecological diversity in the region. It also acts as a barrier to sub-urban sprawl. Before looking to build more housing on protected lands, we must develop less dense urban areas in Toronto. This government's recent policy actions have taken important steps toward this goal (e.g., allowing triplexes). Continuing to support "gentle density" measures is a faster way to build more affordable homes. Ensuring undeveloped land in Toronto proper is turned into mid-rise residential buildings is a faster path to creating places where people want to live. Building within Toronto means residents have access to transit options and public services that do not currently exist in the Greenbelt. Building in the Greenbelt means a loss of natural land coupled with excessive car use and congestion on the already over-burdened roadways into Toronto. The answer isn't sprawl, it's density.