I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the Conservative government's proposal to allow development in the Greenbelt.

The land within the Greenbelt cannot simply be substituted with other areas of land. It is protected because it contains environmentally significant wetlands, grasslands, and forests, protecting many at risk species, ensuring healthy drinking water for Ontario residents, and offsetting carbon dioxide. It is also a beautiful area for Ontario residents to enjoy. Protecting this area and the species that call it home is more important now than ever, especially given the World Wildlife Fund's concerning recent report that there has been a 69% decline in wildlife populations since 1970. The greenbelt also prevents flooding and is extremely valuable to Ontario's economy, generating $9.6B every year.

It is disappointingly hypocritical of Premier Doug Ford and Minister Steve Clark to allow such developments to take place given their previous comments in 2018 and again in 2021 that they would continue to protect the Greenbelt in its entirety. A reversal of this promise is a grossly dishonest move by the current government. Even the province's Housing Affordability Task Force said that the Greenbelt must be protected.

There are other solutions to the housing crisis than harming one of Ontario's most precious protected areas. Responsibly increasing density in urban areas through affordable, appropriately sized rental units will be far more valuable than allowing urban sprawl and suburb development.

As a result of all the evidence that developing the Greenbelt is environmentally disastrous and lacking enough benefit to be worthwhile, I strongly oppose any further development of this important area.