The Oak Ridges Moraine is an…

The Oak Ridges Moraine is an environmentally sensitive and biodiverse area in Ontario, making up the largest contiguous stretches of forested land in southern Ontario. The headwaters, woodlands, and wetlands of the Oak Ridges Moraine are indispensable parts of the natural landscape in Ontario, connecting to Lake Ontario, Simcoe, and Scugog through tributaries and providing local municipalities with clean drinking water. These waters are and will be further negatively impacted by sprawling development in the region, with pollutants from suburban runoff being one source of contamination the Oak Ridges Moraine will face if conservation measures are lessened.

We have already lost far too much of this region's woodlands since confederation, with the forest cover having dropped from 77% in 1861 to 19% in 1921.
We must make sure there is strong protection for every wetland in the Niagara Region and all of southern Ontario.
ALL wetlands should be considered provincially significant. The less wetlands there are, the less habitat species that need wetlands to survive and thrive will have. The reduction of wetlands will inevitably lead to increased flooding, costing taxpayers and burdening our local governments.

Only 5% of Ontario is farmable. These farmable lands are at serious risk, as from 1996 to 2016, the province lost 175 acres a day. These amendments will only increase the loss of farmland in Ontario with no end in sight. What makes matters worse is that much of the development taking place on former farmlands is increasing CO2 emissions, since the suburbs being developed on farmlands lack proper connection to employment and retail areas. The car dependence of these suburbs will contribute to the ongoing use and creation of more parking lots that take up space that could otherwise be used for housing.

First Nations have a long history of opposing European settlement in their lands precisely because settlers drove away animals through their rapid destruction of habitat and negatively impacted the waterways that have been used by First Nations for fishing, transport, harvesting, and many other uses since time immemorial. Canada's courts have found in many cases that by destroying nature, First Nations are deprived of their rights, since their ability to exercise those rights are made extremely difficult if not impossible. In addition, Canadian courts have found that provincial governments have an obligation to protect First Nations' rights, which includes taking steps to protect nature.

The Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council at Ohswken has made it clear that the area covered by the 1701 Beaver Hunting Grounds Treaty is under Haudenosaunee jurisdiction, and that these grounds include the greenbelt and the golden horseshoe. Likewise, Mississaugas of the Credit considers all the waterways within their territory to belong to them, as well as tracts of land surrounding Bronte Creek, 16 Mile Creek, the Credit River, and the Rouge River.
Developing Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas of the Credit lands without their consent would be seriously unethical.

Ontario municipalities have already more than enough room to build new housing within their urban boundaries. Undermining the conservation of wetlands, woodlands, and farmlands in southern Ontario is a massive mistake that will hurt us for years to come.
I therefore call on the provincial government to reject the proposed redesignation of land under the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. The only good part of the proposal is the addition of 9,400 acres to the greenbelt, although this should not come at the expense of lands currently within the greenbelt, including the Oak Ridges Moraine.