I am opposed to the plans to…

I am opposed to the plans to do land swaps of greenbelt lands in Ontario for housing development. The current government's own Housing Affordability Task Force has reported that “A shortage of land isn’t the cause of the problem...Land is available, both inside the existing built-up areas and on undeveloped land outside greenbelts.”

A bigger problem, the report said, is that Ontario hasn’t used the land it has efficiently. Let's stop kidding ourselves, we need intensification, as unpleasant as that idea can seem. We simply cannot afford environmentally to continue letting $$$ be the main determinant of how decisions are made.

I don't see the Ford government offering any data-driven evidence that their approach answers these concerns. What I have seen, by Mr. Ford's own admission, is a capitulation to pressure from developers. Although he does fervently wish it was his own idea. The Greenbelt Council is a sham, and a way for more out of touch, money driven selfish politicians to congratulate themselves on their lack of foresight, or frankly ethics.

I strongly disagree with the proposal of car-centric development being the answer to the housing crisis. These houses will be primarily for middle and upper class citizens. And they don't offer anywhere near enough in the way of affordability or accessibility in return for what they take away forever. Besides we know the government will grant them exceptions to not even meet the flimsy requirements the government says it will hold them to.

When will governments start thinking about the long-term effects of their decisions? It's deeply disappointing and disheartening to see such short-sighted, and frankly cruel leadership.

"When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money."