I am commenting on ERO 019…

I am commenting on ERO 019-6217, which relates to Proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Area boundary regulation.

I strongly oppose the proposed regulation.

Land in the Greenbelt is not needed for housing. This was the explicit conclusion of the provincial government's own blue ribbon Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force.

The land proposed to be removed is very sensitive in terms of its ecological importance, including wetlands, natural heritage system, prime farm land and a headwater for a creek system, among others. Removal of these lands will affect many aspects of the natural system of which these lands are a part and will therefore have broader implications in terms of the protection of the Greenbelt area. Once wetlands, farmlands, and areas of biodiversity are developed, they are lost forever.

The precedential value of removing land from the Greenbelt cannot be overstated. It will establish the principle that the Greenbelt lands no longer have protected status, and will surely encourage other developers to ask for their own piece of the Greenbelt for development.

It must be remembered that the Premier unconditionally promised that he would not release lands from the Greenbelt for development. The people of Ontario expect the Premier to keep this promise.

I strongly urge that the Greenbelt not be opened up for development: not now, not in the future.

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