The proposed amendments to…

The proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Plan vastly undermine its purpose and creates a highly concerning precedent for future developments in the area. The Greenbelt provides many environmental services which benefit all Ontarians. As noted by the Greenbelt Foundation in 2012, the Greenbelt provides $9.1 billion in economic services every year and 161,000 jobs. These benefits include but are not limited to flood and infrastructure protection, drinking water filtration, and purification. In other words, the Government should consider the vast economic benefit this provides along with the environmental considerations of Greenbelt development and ultimately protect this area from development.

It has been consistently demonstrated that more sprawl is not the answer to the current housing crisis. Instead, the Government should consider the premise of "building up" which would result in greater-density developments that can be affordable in already established urban and suburban centres. It has been also noted many times that sprawl will result in the depletion of agricultural land in Ontario. This highlights only some of the future problems sprawl will cause, for no real benefits to the average Ontarian.

Unfortunately, this proposal appears incredibly short-sighted and disappointing after Government promises to protect the Greenbelt. The Greenbelt protects Ontario's nature and biodiversity along with providing innumerable social and economical benefits by remaining untouched. Ultimately, I strongly believe this proposal does not offer solutions to the current housing crisis but instead only develops future problems due to a lack of consideration of sustainable development.