I agree with the experts at…

I agree with the experts at Environmental Defence when they say that ...

"Ontario’s Greenbelt is the recipe for fresh air, clean water, healthy local food, active outdoor recreation, and a thriving economy. At almost 2 million acres, it’s the world’s largest permanently protected Greenbelt, keeping our farmlands, forests, wetlands safe and sustainable.

Premier Doug Ford promised to protect the Greenbelt but his proposed “Open for Business” Act (Bill 66) will put new factories and sprawl in the Greenbelt and other sensitive farmland, forests and watersheds.

Bill 66 also allows new development to bypass the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Protection Act and the Lake Simcoe Act, putting our drinking water at risk."

WHICH MEANS THAT BILL 66 MUST BE AMENDED TO PROTECT THE GREENBELT TO PRESERVE FARMLAND, FORESTS, WATERSHEDS AND THE MULTITUDE OF OTHER SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE.

I agree with the experts at Farms at Work when they say that ...

"Agricultural groups across the province are very concerned with Bill 66, Schedule 10. Why? Because it would allow municipalities to pass "open for business" bylaws that could lead to development of prime farmland in order to "reduce red tape" and create jobs - without any public consultation, without regard to any planning laws or water protection and with no right of appeal."

"Farm organizations believe that jobs are created by building on properly zoned lands, and by supporting agriculture on prime farmland, which creates jobs along the entire food chain."

I AGREE THAT FARMLAND PROTECTION IS NOT "RED TAPE". IT IS VITAL TO OUR FOOD SECURITY AND HEALTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. BILL 66 MUST BE AMENDED TO PROTECT FARMLAND IN ONTARIO.

According to the experts at the The Neptis Foundation, which conducts and publishes nonpartisan research on the past, present and future of urban regions ...

"Only 5% of the Canadian land mass is made up of prime land. Only 0.5% of it is Class 1. The Central Ontario Zone is fortunate to contain a significant portion of this very limited resource. Unfortunately, it occurs in one of the fastest-growing regions of the country."

FERTILE LAND WITH ENOUGH WATER AND AN APPROPRIATE CLIMATE TO GROW FOOD IS SCARCE IN CANADA, AND EVEN MORESO WORLDWIDE. ONTARIO'S GREENBELT IS FAR MORE VALUABLE TO THE ONTARIO PEOPLE, AND TO CANADA AND THE PLANET, IF IT IS PRESERVED AND NOT DEVELOPED. AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GAIN VALUE INTO THE FUTURE.

IT IS VITAL TO PROTECT FARMLAND, FORESTS, AND WETLANDS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. BILL 66 MUST BE AMENDED TO PROTECT THESE VITAL, RARE, AND INVALUABLE RESOURCES IN ONTARIO.