Multiple studies completed…

Multiple studies completed by agencies, even some within this Government, have shown that opening up the Greenbelt is not necessary to meet the 1.5 Million Homes Target set by the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force. What is necessary is the preservation of some of North America's most fertile and productive agricultural land, and the maintenance of the nearly 20 year precedent that substantial lands within the Greenbelt are NOT open for development. What this does is establish a precedent that will be very difficult to reverse - it will lead to further expansion of the Greenbelt North of the GTHA while diminishing it closer to the urban areas, where we need to build density and use existing infrastructure rather than extending our liabilities by continuing to sprawl outwards.

Further, the Province's failure to consult with First Nations in this process puts us all at significant legal risk. It was only 5 years ago that the Government of Canada reached a $1.1 Billion Settlement with the Williams Treaties First Nations - $444 Million of which was paid by Ontario taxpayers. The legal precedent for the absolute authority of our Treaty obligations is clear - this is opening up the province to legal challenges that have the potential to add significant costs, all for the desire of enriching developers. Please focus on building density, and on creating places that are affordable to life, not just affordable to buy.