As a Durham resident who…

As a Durham resident who frequents many of the trails the greenbelt has to offer, I am shocked at the proposed amendments of the Greenbelt plan in relation to Bill 23.

As it currently stands, Bill 23 will decimate environmental protection for wetlands, woodlands and other sensitive green spaces, and it will prohibit conservation authorities from protecting these spaces. It will also undermine several municipalities’ net-zero and green development standards — all while we are in a climate crisis.

We must maintain green development standards, which are crucial for lowering emissions from buildings (one of the top two sources of emissions), and allow conservation authorities to continue to conduct crucial environmental assessments, to protect our environmentally significant spaces and the wildlife that depends on them.

The Ontario government claims the bill will expedite construction of 1.5 million new homes in less than a decade. In reality, it will drive low-density, sprawling development. It will weaken municipalities’ ability to provide essential services, and it will not address affordability. The bill does not benefit renters or families trying to navigate the housing crisis (More houses does not mean affordable housing). We need affordable, climate-friendly communities, not more sprawl.

I am deeply concerned that the Ontario government is failing to protect nature, communities and the climate. I urge you, my elected representative, to take a stand and support the amendments to Bill 23 listed below.

Requested amendments to Bill 23:

In Schedule 1,

REPLACE "(2) Subparagraph 2 iv of subsection 114 (5) of the Act is repealed" WITH "Subparagraph 2 iv of subsection 114 (5) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted: matters relating to sustainable design, if an official plan and a by-law passed under subsection (2) that both contain provisions relating to such matters are in effect in the City."

REMOVE "(3) Subsection 114 (6) of the Act is amended by adding the following paragraph: 1.1 Exterior design, expect to the extent that it is a matter relating to exterior access to a building that will contain affordable housing units or to any part of such a building."

In Schedule 9,

REPLACE "(2) Subparagraph 2 (d) of subsection 41 (4) of the Act is repealed" WITH "Subparagraph 2 (d) of subsection 41 (4) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted: matters relating to sustainable design, if an official plan and a by-law passed under subsection (2) that both contain provisions relating to such matters are in effect in the municipality."

In Schedule 2,

REMOVE (2) Section 21.1.1 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection: (1.1) An authority shall not provide under subsection (1), within its area of jurisdiction, a municipal program or service related to reviewing and commenting on a proposal, application or other matter made under a prescribed Act."

REMOVE "(2) Section 21.1.2 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection: (1.1) An authority shall not provide under subsection (1), within its area of jurisdiction, a program or service related to reviewing and commenting on a proposal, application or other matter made under a prescribed Act."

Ontarians have sat by and watched far to long as our sitting government has cut corners, made selfish decisions, and lacked any shred of decency which has led to the ongoing collapse of our healthcare system, our education system, and now we're expected to allow the rampage to continue on not only protected lands, but stolen land?! It's embarrassing.

Grow a spine, show some empathy, and recognize the only way forward does NOT include the proposed amendments to the Greenbelt plan.