There are so many reasons…

There are so many reasons why this plan is heinous and unwarranted:

Firstly, it is in direct opposition to the promise Doug Ford made to voters when he stated that Greenbelt development was off the table, which, if bill 23 moves forward, would make the Ford Government complicit in his deceit and lies.

Secondly, Greenbelt lands are completely unnecessary for building new homes, there is plenty of viable land that can be used or repurposed, as can be seen in the proposed Downsview lands redevelopment. We do not need seas of large single-family homes, we need upward density and walkable communities.

Thirdly, we will be losing so much of what makes Ontario great, our Greenbelt provides homes and protection for a plethora of native species, many of which are already being threatened.

Fourthly, the Greenbelt still provides Ontarians with food, and our ability to feed our communities from within should become a priority as food instability grows internationally.

And finally, the Greenbelt is home to our watersheds, and removing the protections currently in place will have deep implications on Ontarians’ ability to access fresh, safe drinking waters.

Bill 23 is nothing but a sham, a way for Doug Ford to line the pockets of his developer friends. As the country slides into a recession, cow-towing to greedy developers who will build houses people cannot afford, that Greenbelt municipalities don’t want and that the province doesn’t need, is the last thing the Ontario government should be considering.

Please do the right thing and stop Bill 23.