The people of Ontario…

The people of Ontario believed that the Greenbelt would be protected in perpetuity . Now the Ontario Government wants to remove 7400 acres from the greenbelt in order to build homes. We believed the Premier when he said "the people have spoken we won't touch the greenbelt. Very simple-that's it -the people have spoken and I'm going to listen to them." We believed the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing when he said " We will not consider proposals to remove or develop any part of it"
Now I find it imperative to write to object to the proposed amendments to the greenbelt boundary
because both the Premier and the Minister have not been straight with the people.
There are several reasons why the greenbelt should remain as protected lands and in fact should be increased. Why?
1) Farmland -we are losing 175 acres a day of farmland to urban sprawl and development for houses, roads, highways, strip malls etc. Farmers have been some of the biggest supporters of the Ontario PC Party but not only have they become victims to MZO's they are now also victims of the cutting up of the environmentally protected greenbelt. We are quickly losing land to grow the good quality food we all are used to and need . We may end up with some 50,000 homes but where will we get the food to feed the people who live there?
2) Removal of Forests -trees provide oxygen for us to breathe. They remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They absorb water, help prevent flooding and cool the atmosphere during warm summer months.
3) Wetlands- Not only do they provide habitat for animals and birds. They also provide nutrient retention, erosion control and most importantly they provide groundwater recharge. Many of us in rural Ontario still rely on groundwater for our drinking water.
These lands were put aside for very good reasons and should continue to be protected. Once taken away and developed they can not be returned. This must be stopped.

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