To Whom It May Concern, I…

To Whom It May Concern,

I have a twenty-five year career in Sustainable Tourism Development in the UK and Ontario (including working for the Provincial Government). The proposed changes to the Bill 66 - in particular planning regulations, development, etc. - are not in the interest for the Province and its citizens. Indeed, the proposed changes are quite short-term and focus primarily on economic (i.e., job creation) in the areas of manufacturing and research/innovation and do not take into account environmental and socio-cultural considerations. It is short-sighted and irreversibly harmful to relax planning regulations that allow for existing green spaces (e.g., the Green Belt) and new green spaces / agricultural land to be taken away for purposes such as manufacturing, research/innovation and/or new housing.

In reviewing the proposal you are granting municipalities more decision-making power and less public consultation for their respective citizens. May I remind you that it is the citizens of this Province that pay taxes and seek sustainable tourism development. In my twenty-five career, it is the process of balancing the concerns of economic, environment, and socio-cultural aspects that create the best outcomes for all concerned. It may be a lengthly process, but one that has the best buy in and results by all involved.

Ontario receives approximately 100,000 newcomers each year and while they often wish to reside in major centres in Southern Ontario, more incentives could be offered to locate in Northern Ontario and to build homes by infilling in City centres and by re-purposing existing brown fields for manufacturing, industrial parks, and so on. With the increase in population each year, the pressure for green space both within Cities and throughout the Province will increase and if anything the Provincial Government should not only protect our existing green belt, green spaces and provincial parks but increase the number of the these in the near future. An opportunity may exist now, if the the Provincial Government has the political will (through its Ministry of Parks and Recreation) to contact the Girl Guide Association of Ontario to purchase and re-purpose former Girl Guide camp grounds for provincial day-park and overnight use. Some of the sites have already been sold off to private owners, but there are still some Girl Guide Camps that may be available if the Government chooses to move quickly. This would be a cost effective way to increase our green space throughout Southern Ontario in particular and in some cases work with local not-for-profit groups and communities to ensure they are well cared for.

Some of our Provincial Parks generate substantial revenue to subsidize other provincial parks and towards General Revenue. Many of our parks need quite a bit of investment (for example: new garbage facilities, new picnic tables, new washrooms with change facilities) to keep them pristine, and to preserve the beauty and attractiveness that draw citizens and tourists in the first place to use and enjoy. Some of these parks are located near communities and generate a great deal of economic benefits - both directly and indirectly - for these communities and are nationally and in some cases internationally recognized by visitors. As a government, you should lead by example, to preserve our green space, to enhance them, and to increase the number of them. Thank you for your consideration of my comments.