I agree that Ontario needs…

I agree that Ontario needs more housing but not at the expense of the Greenbelt. The government's own housing taskforce stated that additional housing can be easily built within the boundaries of the urban centers surrounding the Greenbelt - density would simply be intensified to make room for additional houses. The Ontario government itself has mandated that all municipalities' Official Plans must contain substantial density targets. The following arguments illustrate
The More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 goes directly against the clearly stated intention of the Greenbelt Plan . The Greenbelt Plan was created specifically to prevent any type of development on this land.
The following is an excerpt taken from ERO # 019-6216 Proposed Amendments to the Greenbelt Plan:
"The proposed strategic removal of lands from the Greenbelt Area was considered in the context of the objectives and policies of the Greenbelt Plan...". This statement is found in the Greenbelt Plan. It is blatantly wrong as the objectives and policies of the Greenbelt Plan clearly state the land is not to be developed.
"...Clark wrote in a statement. "These proposals will support our municipal partners' plans for responsible growth and help build at least 50,000 new homes, while leading to an overall expansion of the Greenbelt." The More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 does not reflect "responsible" growth - all it does is expand urban sprawl, which is what the Greenbelt Act guards against.
"Last year, when announcing plans to expand the Greenbelt by adding a moraine south of Toronto and a series of urban river lands, Clark said he would not cut the protected area or do a land swap.
'I want to be clear: We will not in any way entertain any proposals that will move lands in the Greenbelt, or open the Greenbelt lands to any kind of development,' he had said". The Ontario government has broken its own promise by allowing development on the Greenbelt.
In conclusion, 50,000 new homes built in subdivisions sprawling into the protected Greenbelt will not help to alleviate the housing crisis in Ontario.
We need affordable homes, close to transit and services, to lessen the need for long commutes. In this time of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must be a prime consideration in any proposed new construction.