I am strongly opposed to…

I am strongly opposed to this proposal to remove over 7,000 acres from the Greenbelt for development. It is a falsehood that this land is required for housing. The Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force stated in its recent report that taking land for development in the Greenbelt will not address the housing shortage issue.
Environmentally sensitive areas and valuable farmland must be protected both within and outside of the Greenbelt. Housing needs must be addressed within existing urban areas using smart growth concepts.
Opening up the Greenbelt for development sets an alarming precedent that contradicts the government’s previous commitments. The Greenbelt was established to permanently protect natural heritage systems and farmland for future generations and should remain so in its entirety.
This ill-advised proposal to break off chunks of the Greenbelt for development should be abandoned.