Do not move forward with…

Do not move forward with this proposal.

Ontario is losing acres of prime farmland every year. Giving the greenbelt over to developers threatens Ontario's and Canada's able to uphold a sustainable future for food security. If we give up our important farmland, we risk even higher food costs at a time where families are struggling to put food on the table. The negative long term impacts of this proposal would be substantial.

There are others ways for the province to pursue its goal for housing. Leverage the support of environmental groups, social support and housing groups, and municipalities to find innovative ways to create *affordable* housing. Sprawl development of expensive housing and subdivisions is not the answer. For example, build up not out, make use of vacant office and commercial buildings that have been empty since the pandemic, and more innovative options. Ontario has an opportunity to try something new. Go beyond dated sprawl development.

Lastly, this land is one of the world's largest protected piece of land. It holds biodiversity significance that must be preserved, not only for endangered species but for humans too. Engage with environmental and indigenous groups wholeheartedly and listen to them. They are the experts of this land -- not politicians and not for-profit developers.

Please, preserve this land. If you truly want to help Ontarians that are struggling, you would listen to the social, indigenous and environmental groups that oppose this for valid reasons. If this goes through, it will prove that the Conservative Government is more interested in lining pockets of it's already well-off developers/investors, than supporting "the little guys" that you claim to stand for.

Don't go back in your promise to not touch the Greenbelt. Listen, collaborate, innovate. Don't demolish in the name of profit.