November 7, 2022 I am…

November 7, 2022
I am writing to you to express that I am strongly opposed to the proposed removal of lands from Ontario's Greenbelt for the purposes of building new housing and infrastructure. Not only will 'selective removal' of lands within the Greenbelt degrade the connectivity of habitats and watersheds, it will set dangerous precedent to destroy protected spaces in Ontario.

Although the Premier indicates that the land is required due to the proposed growth in the GTA due to population projections and federal immigration targets, there are suitable lands to increase density in urban areas without fragmenting protected, environmentally significant areas and agricultural lands. Any increased density could take place in areas that currently exist that are coupled with existing municipal, and provincial infrastructure as opposed to promoting sprawl within a protected area.

Although I welcome the addition of the Paris Galt Moraine to expand the Greenbelt, it's addition should not come at the expense of habitat fragmentation and urbanization within the Greenbelt. Any decision to remove and destroy forest, wetlands, and agricultural lands not only degrades the intrinsic value of greenspace and forests, it destroys the opportunity for future generations to grow their food, clean their air, and have a carbon sink to combat climate change. If the past decade of environmental and climate science has taught our society anything, clearly it is the need to value our protected spaces for maintaining balance for both human and planetary health.

As a private citizen, I thank you for the opportunity to comment and stridently urge you to reconsider any proposed destruction of existing protected areas in Ontario, including the Greenbelt. I will not include my name as I wish for my comment to be considered for any publishing to demonstrate the opposition to the Provincial Government's proposed amendments.