Removing these particular…

Removing these particular lands from the Greenbelt and using them for housing development is unacceptable for many reasons.
1. Indigenous peoples of the areas were not consulted.
2. Wetland and riparian habitat experts show that reduction in habitat will cause further danger to already threatened wildlife species and reduce natural removal of atmospheric carbon. We are in a climate crisis and a biodiversity loss emergency where any reduction in Greenbelt lands needs to be prohibited. Wetlands are also water purifiers and are essential to cleaning the water suppluy used by several million people in the GTA.
3. Flood control experts from academia and conservation authorities indicate increased flood risk and removal of the ability to apply needed conservation efforts to reduce flood risk. Municipalities say they are not able to afford to look after flood control nor do they have the expertise to do it well. They rely on conservation authorities to have the right tools to protect people, property and natural landscapes.
4. Housing proposed will not be affordable or geared to income which is where the greatest need is.
5. Housing is too far away from the core of commerce resulting in increased need for fossil fuel use for transportation at a time when we must be drastically reducing CO2 emissions.
6. Farm land is essential to having food security and can, in no circumstances, be taken out of circulation.
7. There is enough land to create appropriate housing in better locations available now according to many sources in the GTA.
8. Urban sprawl does not have to occur if higher density development and smaller homes are adopted as the norm by urban planners in conjunction with efficient public transit.

Addition of lands to the Greenbelt is more than welcome and wise but not as a replacement for the parcels marked for removal in this proposal.