I am fiercely opposed to the…

I am fiercely opposed to the Ontario government’s plan to open up protected land on the Greenbelt for development.

We should not have to choose between protecting the environment which provides us with invaluable resources such as water storage, stormwater drainage, oxygen and biodiversity and building the housing we desperately need. The Ontario government's Housing Affordability Task Force made it very clear that the housing crisis is absolutely not caused by a lack of land to build on.

Planning experts in Ontario and around the world are unanimous: urban sprawl is an environmental and economic disaster. In its current form, our Greenbelt offers an extraordinary biosystem of forests, rivers and farms which is critically important to cope with the climate emergency, protect local food producers and preserve recreational opportunities. We need to build homes where people want to live – near jobs, transit, shops and entertainment, where they can work and play without the long, soul-crushing commutes that steal their time with loved ones.

I am deeply troubled by the threat posed by Highway 413. This highway would slice through the Greenbelt, destroying nearly six kilometres of forest and 75 wetlands. It would pave 2,000 acres of farmland and rather than reduce congestion it will encourage more drivers when we should be expanding public transit — including GO trains, electric buses and light rail.

Once Greenbelt land is consumed by paved roads, housing and commercial development, the biodiversity and healthy fertile farmland is lost forever.

Honestly, I feel that this plan to open up the Greenbelt to sprawl development is unmitigated insanity and shows absolutely no forethought for how future generations will sustain themselves in a world experiencing the intense changes of our climate.

There are so many other solutions to address Ontario's housing crisis – some are traditional and some are innovative, but in the long term, they will cost less than stealing this precious life giving legacy of from future generations.

I am fervently hoping that this government will demonstrate the wisdom and integrity to change this policy allow the Greenbelt to remain protected.