I am a student at Central…

I am a student at Central Peel Secondary school in Ontario, and I wish to express my concerns that I have with some of the amendments regarding the Green Belt. I understand that these amendments were created to help the residents of the Green Belt, but in my opinion I found some of these amendments disagreeable. Me and many of my fellow classmates desire a great future for the Green Belt, and because of this, I wish to voice my opinion on two specific amendments. Firstly 1.1 is amended by deleting “Urban sprawl” and replacing it with “Unmanaged growth”. Secondly, 1.2 is amended by adding “, work and play”. The following will include my opinions on these two amendments.

Starting off with 1.1, this amendment is something that I don’t see as something addressed properly in a sense. I feel that the urban sprawl in the GGH (Greater Golden Horseshoe area) has only helped the local economy, as far as I have been informed, the local economy in the GGH has been supported mainly by the Green Belt but the local population are really the ones who are making money from the Green Belt. The major urban sprawl of people has made more people seek jobs, and those jobs really just benefit the government and the Green Belt itself. The only reason the Green Belt is so productive in its economy benefits, is because of the urban sprawl in the vicinity, and replacing it as unmanaged growth isn’t really how it should be described. I believe that this should have been classified as more of a “beneficial exponential growth”.

Secondly I would like to voice my concern on 1.2. In 1.2 it clearly states that “a clean and healthy environment” and “social equity” will be replaced with “an approach that puts people first”. This is completely baffling to me as the people should not be put before a clean and healthy environment. The only big source of income for the GGH is the Green Belt, and that should be the main focus of the government. Not saying that the people shouldn’t be put first, but they shouldn’t be the main concern, especially with the protection of the Green Belt being so vital to the local economy, and being the main creator of jobs in the area.

In conclusion I would like to see some of these new amendments slightly tweaked so that they will be more, “acceptable” to say it bluntly. I hope you will read my letter and understand the points that I am making in my arguments on some of the amendments created.