I strongly object to the…

I strongly object to the revocation of the Central Pickering Development Plan and specifically the elimination of protections for the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve as outlined. As enshrined in the CDPD and the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Reserve Act, this Class 1 farmland was to be protected permanently. When this consultation first was launched on October 25th, it reaffirmed that commitment to protect this important land permanently. Following the revocation of the Greenbelt land announcement on November 4th that was changed. Protected permanently on November 3rd but not the next day. Shame on this Government for its lack of transparency, short-sightedness and willingness to let the developers of Ontario define what is important to the greater good.

I understand that this revocation was requested by outgoing Mayor Dave Ryan, and supported by incoming Mayor Ashe, neither of whom was elected to take this action. My quarrel is not with the need for more housing. As a mother of three young adults all pondering how they can afford a home, I get it. But this is not what this revocation is all about. We know that the City of Pickering's own planning team acknowledges that they have ample development land available to meet provincial targets and are on course to meet those goals at a time when Pickering isn't even meeting it's population growth targets. The Seaton development is only 10% completed. Pickering and Ontario do not need the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Reserve to meet this target. Existing and planned infrastructure will also buckle under the strain presented by developing this area.

The Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve is also the only agricultural preserve in Ontario. It was set aside permanently for a reason. This is Class 1 farmland, among the best in North America according to agricultural experts. It should continue to be protected. Paving over fertile farmland close to the GTA at a time when affordable food supply is already at significant risk to residents across Ontario and the GTA is wrong and short-sighted. In fact, it is reprehensible crime. People need food and we can no longer rely on drought-ridden California, Arizona, South America or other countries such as war torn Ukraine to feed the people of Ontario. Despite the neglect of this land by all officials over the years, it continues to be an invaluable parcel of land for food security, today and into the future.

On the environmental side, the development of this land, threatens natural areas, pollutes the Duffins Creek and Rouge watersheds, and poses risks to floodplains and wetlands. Fragmenting these natural areas will have a domino effect on our environment and overall quality of life.

This land was to be set aside in perpetuity. Forever means forever. As a resident of Pickering, land owner, and taxpayer, I remain gobsmacked that these changes would be announced within months of a provincial election and the day following a municipal election during which none of these matters were raised. The Agricultural Preserve is an essential part of the character of Durham and Pickering. It was recognized as important to protect in 2005, 2007 and, given today's environmental and food security pressures, preserving as much of this land as possible is even more important today. Please reinstate these permanent protections originally embedded in the CDPD to the Rouge Duffins Agricultural Preserve.