I am strongly opposed to the…

I am strongly opposed to the aspect of this proposal that allows development in some of the Greenbelt. These are my main reasons:
1. A report from the government’s own Housing Affordability Task Force came to the conclusion that a shortage of land is not the cause of the housing crisis. The task force went so far as to say that the Greenbelt, along with other environmentally sensitive areas and farms, must be protected.
2. The Greenbelt was created to protect wetlands and farmlands which were being destroyed in record numbers. It is imperative that we keep this area protected so that it continues to filter our water and clean the air for our growing population.
3. We need to improve our food security. Protecting the rich farmland in the Greenbelt will allow us to continue to grow food locally.
4. Premier Doug Ford promised during the election that he would not touch the Greenbelt for housing development - he said he would work to find other solutions. The Housing Affordability Task Force identified some of those solutions, which did not include building in the Greenbelt.
5. Research conducted by Environmental Defence determined that there is enough land in the GTA to build the amount of housing required to serve our communities, without touching the Greenbelt. This is where the government's focus should lie.
6. Ontario, more than ever before, needs the environmental benefits of the Greenbelt to help to manage our impacts on climate change.

It is imperative that we stop destroying the environment which sustains us. We are part of the environment - it is not something separate from us that we can abuse and destroy.