I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my opposition to any changes to the Provincial Policy Statement that would weaken the protection afforded to natural heritage features and agricultural lands in Ontario.

We need continued involvement of Conservation Authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources to provide scientific input on the potential impacts of development proposals on the natural environment. Municipalities do not have the scientific expertise to provise a thorough review of developement proposals. Consultants to the development industry have a conflict of interest in studiying the impact of development on natural heritage features, including wetlands woodlands, and on agricultural lands. The Ministry of Natural Resources has provided a strong policy framework to protect wetlands,, species at risk and other natural heritage features and functions and this framework should not be weakened by the proposed policy changes.

There are other, more environmentally friendly solutions to the housing crisis - more urban infill, developments that are less reliant on cars, higher density dwellings, a relaxing of municipal bylaws that allow for basement and in-house apartments, and more.

In the face of unprecedented and accelerating biodiversity loss and the ever-worsening climate crisis, it is vital that your government do its utmost to protect the farmland, wetlands, forests, rivers and other natural areas that sustain us. As Ontario's Housing Affordability Task Force explained in its 2022 report, we do not need to sacrifice environmental protection to address the housing crisis. That's because "a shortage of land isn't the cause of the problem." (p.10) There is a vast supply of land already open for development within existing municipal settlement boundaries.

I urge you to 1) withdraw all proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement that would weaken the protection of farmland and natural heritage; and 2) retain and uphold the role of the public, CAs the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in environmental planning and decision-making. The best decisions on development related issues will be made with all of these groups working together with municipalities.