The forced boundary…

The forced boundary expansions destroying Regional Official Plans for Halton Region and Waterloo Region cause the unnecessary destruction of thousands of acres of irreplaceable farmland. Local food supply is one tool to reduce unnecessary energy waste in the face of climate change. Changing climate patterns are also creating the loss of agricultural areas around the world. We are fortunate to have prime farmland in our area which provides high-quality food for Ontario and jurisdictions beyond. The changes to land expropriation and environmental reviews in Bill 162 are affronts to democracy in Ontario.

Bill 162 also forces opening urban boundaries to needlessly allow absurd development on essential groundwater recharge areas of the Waterloo Moraine. Again this action puts the health and well-being of Ontarians at risk. A government action that is willing to put Ontarians at risk is outrageous. In addition, groundwater protection, in the time of climate change is a resource which must be protected. The Region of Waterloo report, see the link below, clearly opposes this policy presented in Bill 162 Reports:

Region of Waterloo Staff Report Expressing Concerns About Bill 162 On Drinking Water Supply:
https://pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?Docume…
https://pub-regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?Docume…

The provincial government's attempt to cancel the Highway #413 Impact Assessment is irresponsible and damaging to the environment Ontarians live in. In fact, we must move forward in the opposite direction – that is, creating legislation to protect our environment, the only environment we have.

We are honoured to live in a country in which citizens and governments rightfully listen to each others' views and work together to create healthy and equitable conditions for all.