I would like to state my…

I would like to state my opposition to the removal of lands from the Greenbelt Area and to the redesignation of land in the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan Area if this will permit new development.

1. The reasons for protecting the land in the Greenbelt still apply. If anything, there is a greater need for the Greenbelt now.

The Greenbelt is supposed to provide permanent protection to the agricultural land base and to ecological and hydrological features, areas and functions.

It was established because the region has some of Canada’s most important and productive farmland. Its fertile soil, moderate climate and abundant water resources support agricultural production that cannot be duplicated elsewhere in the province and the country (wording taken from the Greenbelt Plan). In other words, farms can’t move to other parts of Ontario and produce the same volume, quality and variety of food. We need to preserve this valuable farmland.

The region also contains many of Canada’s most ecologically and hydrologically significant natural environments. These natural areas clean the air and provide drinking water for the millions of people who live here. They should continue to be protected for the health of present and future generations.

2. There has been no credible public process to decide whether lands should be removed from the Greenbelt area or which lands should be removed.

Municipalities, experts and the public have not had adequate opportunity to review and provide input on the removal of these lands from the Greenbelt. In fact, the process appears to be designed to prevent comment.

The deadline for commenting was very short. The proposal was posted when municipal councils were newly elected and in the process of being sworn in and getting organized.

The proposal was posted on the Registry at the same time as at least 10 other proposals that impact on the environment and municipalities, all with short deadlines for commenting.

And finally, it was posted while Bill 23 was being hurried through the Legislature. Bill 23 makes drastic changes to the planning system and to the role of conservation authorities in regulating and reviewing development that affects our watercourses, wetlands and environmentally sensitive lands. It is almost impossible for anyone outside of the provincial government to fully understand all of the changes that are being made to Ontario’s environmental protections right now.

If the Ontario Government really believes that the removal of these lands from the Greenbelt area is warranted, it should be willing to establish a transparent public process with a reasonable timeframe.

3. The Greenbelt lands are not needed for housing.

There are already 88,000 acres of land already approved for the development of new housing near communities where there are services and where people already live. These lands should be developed before looking to remove lands from the Greenbelt.

4. Removing the lands will harm climate resilience

Removing the lands will harm climate resilience by undermining the ecological integrity of the watersheds and natural systems in and around the Greenbelt according to the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance Steering Committee.

It has become increasingly clear that climate change puts us all at risk. We are facing more severe weather, flooding, air pollution, unpredictable growing seasons that could cause food shortages and wildlife endangerment. The answer isn’t to destroy farmland and environmentally sensitive areas and add to urban sprawl. I would urge the Ontario Government to improve our climate resilience by leaving these lands in the Greenbelt and adding more lands to the Greenbelt instead.

5. There is no guarantee that new developments in the Greenbelt will be affordable.

The Ontario Government appears to be removing lands from the Greenbelt without putting a plan in place to ensure that any new housing to be built on the land is affordable. The Government does not say that it will require apartment buildings, rental accommodation, townhouses, triplexes or other modest housing to be built. Instead, it promises only that developers will be required to build quickly. Without new government requirements, why would a developer choose to build modest housing when it could maximize its profits instead by building large and expensive homes that do nothing to solve the housing crisis? I am concerned that Ontario is handing a huge windfall to developer landowners and receiving nothing in return.

All of these facts lead me to the conclusion that there is no good reason to remove lands from the Greenbelt. And there is a very real risk of harm to the natural environment and to our agricultural land base and food security. I would urge the Ontario Government to reconsider this proposal and instead work with stakeholder municipalities, experts and the public to develop a strategy to resolve the housing crisis.