Hello, I am writing to voice…

Hello, I am writing to voice my opposition to developing on protected Greenbelt land.

In my opinion, it really starts with why this land is protected in the first place: to protect water, forests, farmland, and wildlife from irresponsible housing development: developing housing for profit, not for social support, and without regard for locational environmental impact.

As someone who was born and raised in the Greenbelt of Ontario, growing up in Caledon East, who has a family in the Orangeville and surrounding areas, I wish for these areas of protected land to remain protected. All along the Bruce Trail, Rail Trail, Humber River etc. there are natural habitats that are going to be built over with no plan to compensate (not that a plan to relocate them or plant more trees would make up for the loss of protected Greenbelt land) for the loss of plant or wildlife that contribute to keeping our planet healthy and farmland protected.

I think the biggest issue for me is that in any kind of future development (that should not be on protected land) should be affordable housing. Simply building more and charging outrageous prices to developers that trickles down to buyers and/or renters will only make the housing crisis worse (as it will favour developers/wealthy people who can afford to buy, not those in desperate need of housing). Since most of the recent development is (and will become, if this proposal runs through) owned by investors, not run for the purpose of social support, development favours profit over social assistance: there needs to be more oversight when it comes to what is built, and where it is built.

I know many people who have a connection to and respect for the natural beauty of this province, just like I do, and I want to make sure that this land is protected.

Thank you for your time.

Robert