The proposal ignores the…

The proposal ignores the original purpose of establishing and protecting our Greenbelt and focusses instead on enriching developers. It does not address Ontario's lack of affordable housing.

The proposal will create an ecologically vulnerable non-contiguous Greenbelt by allowing land speculators to develop previously protected lands. In fact, the government appears to have tipped off developers who have already acquired Greenbelt properties, now designated for the chopping block. This smells of corruption and deceit.

The government should focus on developing the thousands of acres of available land in existing urban centres that is close to transit and urban services.

The proposal will encourage expensive urban sprawl and the building of unnaturally high buildings where humans are housed like sardines or utensils, straining existing infrastructure, public services and amenities. This will come at the expense of a diversity in housing that could accommodate all ages and incomes.

The proposal undermines the protection of wetlands, woodlands, rivers, streams and wildlife habitat across Ontario, all of which are necessary for mitigating the increasing risk of flooding, rapid climate change, and unprecedented biodiversity loss. It also undermines the dedicated stewards of these lands.

The proposal accelerates the current, frightening loss of 319 acres of Ontario farmland each day while an increasing number of Ontarians (particularly children) go hungry and rely on food banks.

Like a dictator, Premier Ford and his government are attempting to bully their way into destroying land-use planning processes that municipalities, conservation authorities and residents need in order to protect, manage and plan for climate-resilient ecosystems and communities. A few short years ago the Ford government attempted in Bill 66 to develop the Greenbelt. Only severe opposition halted that move, but the halt now seems only temporary. Will the government next look for a way to invoke the Notwithstanding clause?

The proposal undermines our democracy by reducing public participation in planning matters and urban design, and eliminating the public’s right to appeal planning decisions.

The proposal creates chaos through the elimination of regional planning. As citizens have seen before, Premier Ford likes to create hardship for his political opponents — as he did by re-drawing the Ward map in Toronto weeks before a municipal election.