To the Ontario Government, I…

To the Ontario Government,

I am disheartened to hear that these proposed amendments to the Greenbelt are even being considered. There are many reasons why the "More Homes Built Faster" campaign is a disastrous plan, but I will focus on two main points here. The first regards the environmental crisis we are facing as our climate transforms, and the second concerns mitigating the housing crisis in a meaningful and sustainable manner. However, before I make my points, I want to detail my own background: I am a 30-year old who has recently gotten married and is starting a family. My spouse and I come from middle-class backgrounds and we both have lower-income jobs. Of course, we would love to own our own home one day, but we are not willing to sacrifice our Greenbelt, our environment, and ultimately our province's future to realize this dream. If the government is smart about addressing climate change, managing the housing market, and investing in sustainable and smart urban planning, then we may one day be able to purchase a home while still doing what is best for our environment and our children’s futures.

1) The manifold and imminent disasters that climate change will bring for our province need no detailing here. However, food shortages are one of the most pressing problems presented by global warming. It is foolish even to consider the destruction of our precious and fertile farmland in this time of need. The Greenbelt is a blessing, one that should not be squandered on unnecessary housing developments and urban sprawl. Encouraging local food production and consumption should be one of the main goals of our province in attempting to mitigate the impacts of climate change on our population. This farmland needs to be preserved and expanded to serve the future food needs of Ontario’s growing populace. Moreover, the biodiversity that inhabits the Greenbelt’s countryside, conservation areas, and watersheds is necessary to upkeep the agricultural health of our province. All of these areas are connected and must be preserved together to protect our environment. The land included in the Greenbelt cannot just be swapped out for other land – it has been identified as an ecologically significant area for a reason and that status demands respect and protection. At this critical time in the fight against climate change, we need to be encouraging our local agricultural economy and preserving as much farmland and as many conservation areas as possible to ensure a sustainable future.

2) The housing crisis will not be solved by developers expanding into the countryside and building more houses. It is not a lack of houses that is causing this problem, but that those houses and condominiums that already exist are far too expensive for the average young couple to afford. Building more houses, which will certainly be unnecessarily large and expensive, will result in young couples being forced into financial distress as they take out enormous and burdensome mortgages to purchase these new homes. Urban sprawl is not the answer, and this amendment will only result in putting money in the pockets of the developers; there is no aid for aspiring home owners in Doug Ford’s plan. A better and more sustainable solution is actually to address some of the causes of the housing market crisis. The province should do more to prevent absentee landlords from purchasing the houses that already exist, so that first time home-buyers have the opportunity to make a competitive and fair offer for the property. I have many times seen the bids of young couples fall through because an absentee landlord makes a better offer, and the house then becomes a student rental property rather than a family home. It is heartbreaking to see, and the government needs to regulate such practices in the housing market. Moreover, there is much to be gained by concentrating the government’s resources in revitalizing the housing market in areas of Ontario cities that are already urbanized. In many of our cities, the downtown core has become dilapidated; a campaign to build high-rise condos and promote affordable living in the urban centre could breathe new life into these areas, promoting the return of businesses and cultural energy to these neighbourhoods. Building upwards in already urbanized areas, rather than outwards into our precious farmland, would reinvigorate our cities, supply prospective home-owners with affordable homes, and preserve our environment for ourselves and future generations.

I have one final point to make: a referendum was held in Hamilton, a city that will be most affected by these changes, earlier this year to ask its residents their opinions about urban sprawl. There result was a resounding consensus to stop urban sprawl, and as a result, the municipal government created legislation to limit the city’s boundaries. Yet with this proposal, the Ontario government has trampled on the decisions of the people and the municipal government of Hamilton. This is inexcusable and a betrayal of democratic rights. The city has spoken, and it asks you to leave our farmland and Greenbelt alone, and to stop disregarding the wishes of its inhabitants for the sake of pleasing developers. Thank you for your attention. I hope that you will make the correct choice and prevent the passing of these amendments to Ontario’s Greenbelt.