I take issue with many of…

I take issue with many of the proposed changes to the omnibus bill, Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 as they relate to the protection of natural heritage resources and agriculturally important lands for current and future generations. These efforts will turn back efforts made over many decades to ensure we preserve the lands needed to support healthy and sustainable communities. Everyone DOES deserve a place to live but not at the cost of the environment and food sustainability.

Food security and protection of spaces that support and protect local farming are more important than ever and many areas in Canada actively work toward ensuring local access to food. Local access reduces environmental impacts of relying on long distance transport of food, while reducing prices and increasing food security.

Our government should be a leader in the protection of our agricultural resources, especially in the large urban areas of southern Ontario where they are in limited supply and at the mercy of being consumed for housing as land values soar. We expect our elected representatives to be forward thinking to ensure we are building sustainable communities that can withstand the test of time, including a changing climate and changing economy.

Bill 23 lumps together a significant number of changes that impact green space, natural areas and agricultural lands which limits the ability for public consultation and ultimately harms our democracy. We have a vested interest to protect these spaces as much as reasonably possible not only for our immediate concern, but also for future generations. I hope this government will reflect upon these comments, and those being put forth by others, and make changes to this legislation so that protections of agricultural lands are not weakened under the guise of affordable housing. Making housing affordable should be a priority, absolutely, but not at the expense of our food security, local food production and the jobs that rely on it.