Re: Proposed Amendments to…

Re: Proposed Amendments to the Greenbelt Plan (ERO 019-6216)

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the Greenbelt Plan for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

I understand and agree that there is a housing supply and affordability issue in Ontario that needs to be pragmatically addressed, and therefore support the government’s commitment to reducing unnecessary barriers to development and streamlining processes. That said, there is no reason that the province cannot meet their development targets while protecting the Greenbelt.

There is no need to perform any of the proposed amendments to the Greenbelt for reasons explained below:

Importance of the Greenbelt
The Greenbelt protects the headwaters of the rivers flowing into Lake Ontario and preserve valuable farmland that Ontario desperately needs. With global shortages of produce like lettuce, why wouldn’t Ontario want to utilize these farmlands instead of destroying them. It is the home of Ontario’s only two specialty crop areas and amongst the most fertile soils and unique climate conditions to grow crops that can’t be found commercially anywhere else. This would be a huge economic benefit to Ontario.

Ontario’s Greenbelt is the world’s largest protected land providing Ontario with fresh clean water, local food and drink and world class outdoor recreation and tourism experiences. With it being such valuable land for Ontario, there is no logical explanation to remove protection from any of it. In addition, when something as valuable as the Greenbelt is destroyed, it cannot be replaced. Individuals/companies/governments should not be able to gain from removal of Ontario’s resources personally or financially.

Lands are already designated for development
Leading Architects in Ontario recently stated that there are already 86,500 acres within the GTA currently zoned and ready for development. When lands area already slated for development, the process is more streamline and could have started already. There would be no need to even propose developing on the Greenbelt. In addition, other municipalities throughout Ontario already have Official Plans and zonings for development. Removing protections like Bill 23 and the Greenbelt is harmful to Ontario’s resources and redundant when development could have already started on developable lands.

Proposal to add Lands to the Greenbelt
Ontario previously announced that they would add the series of 13 urban rivers and valleys to the Greenbelt, and they received backlash. The 9400 acres being added for protection does not mitigate the net loss of the protected land in the Greenbelt. This is partially because most of the added lands were already protected from development in the first place, so it does not mitigate the net loss of the valuable Greenbelt land being removed. By removing the 7400 acres, it will destroy the concept of permanent protection that is vital to the functioning of the Greenbelt as a whole and it will unleash controversy of land speculation across the entire Greenbelt. Denying farmers and landowners the certainty they need to continue stewarding the forests, wetland, and soils on their land, and pushing ownership forever out of reach.

Removing protections could also start a never-ending queue of Greenbelt land speculators at the Minister’s door, each with their own convenient rationalization for paving their own portion of the Greenbelt. It is hoped that the Government of Ontario would govern for the benefit of the people of Ontario and not for financial gain or biases of others to financially gain.

I recommend that:
• The province considers promoting food production in the Greenbelt and preserve our valuable soils especially at a time of food shortages.
• The province leaves the Greenbelt in its current state as originally promised approaching the June 2, 2022, election. With the last election having a small turnout, misleading voters before elections will not help motivate others to vote in the future.
• The province focuses efforts on building up urban areas instead of urban sprawl outwards.
• Large scale developments should be limited to municipal urban boundaries where infrastructure and transportation currently exist.
• The proposed changes to the Greenbelt be repealed.