I am strongly opposed to…

I am strongly opposed to this legislation. As a professional land use planner, I understand the importance of regulations that protect our drinking water, the Greenbelt and the Great Lakes. These regulations are NOT red tape and it is dishonest of this government to suggest that they are. These regulations were put in place after careful review and consideration - and in the case of the Clean Water Act, after many people died due to contaminated drinking water. These regulations offer safeguards and are important in the evaluation of development proposals.

The Greenbelt protects Ontario farmland, forests, and nature. It provides habitat for wildlife and productive farmland that supports rural jobs, and a strong agricultural business sector. Speaking as a planner and constituent, I do not want the Greenbelt open for development and I hope the Premier honours his promise made during the campaign that the Greenbelt would remain protected.

The proposed legislation would also undermine efforts to make Ontario communities more liveable, sustainable and resilient since open-for-business by-laws would override PPS policies supporting active transportation, affordable housing, green infrastructure and climate resiliency.

It would also compromise transparency and public engagement, as the by-laws could be passed without any prior public notice or consultation. This is unacceptable and flies in the face of good planning.

Business, growth, and development do not need to come at the expense of our drinking water, our clean air, or our protected natural areas. Leave the review of development applications to local government and the planners and other experts that they employ. And leave our planning legislation alone - this is nothing but a backhanded way allow development to proceed unchecked merely for financial benefit. The potential addition of a few jobs is not worth the impact on our healthy and environment. This is very short sighted and irresponsible.

Please do the right thing and advise the Ministers responsible to reverse the profound environmental rollbacks proposed in Bill 66.