My mother and I are City of…

My mother and I are City of Pickering residents, and have been exposed to very intense construction projects near our area of Whitevale/Amberlea. Despite construction being completed for many new settlement subdivisions for some years, the resulting loss of tree cover has impacted the air quality in our area such that both my mother and I notice the difference. Newer construction projects north of where we live also impact our health, as the construction dust further exacerbates our asthma when we go for walks. This is especially hard on my mother who is a senior, and is no doubt making her quality of life worse as she ages.

Your proposal of removing lands from the Greenbelt in Pickering as proposed in Map 6 will likely guarantee the opening up of more areas for construction near us and will only make mine and my mother's health worse. There are other ways of addressing housing shortages without destroying the ability to enjoy clean air. By opening up these lands for development, I feel you are actively trying to lead myself and my mother to an earlier death at worst, or force us to move at best.

You are also likely destroying a section that is incredibly valuable and necessary countryside and farmland. The ability to grow food and eat locally will be especially needed as climate changes are already impacting food production worldwide. Removing that land use possibility is infuriating and irresponsible considering how many in Pickering are becoming more and more food insecure as cost of living increases.

I am imploring you to stop this ridiculous plan, and do NOT remove the Greenbelt designation from Pickering.