4 Dec 2022 My first concern…

4 Dec 2022
My first concern about the Greenbelt issues is the manner in which the specific Greenbelt lands are to be seized out of the rural, agricultural, and natural heritage assets. They have been pre-determined to be of vital and irreplaceable components (with its intrinsic, inherent geographic uniqueness) that constitute our beloved Ontario - in The Greenbelt - by our Premier....without a second thought!
By not balancing the interests and factors of all the people and characters; risk, benefit, cost or weighing the ripple effects of such a plan, and by not evaluating alternatives. The decision is without a sincere, thorough evaluation, but by autocratic overlord decree such as this.
It is shocking, arbitrary and is tramples democratic Canadian values. It is shamefully simplistic and seems reckless? Sure.
Are we anybody to you? Who are you for us? Domination by power? I don't think we signed up for that.
The language and names regarding our concerns for the environment coming from discussions from developers are offensive, and invalidating. WE ARE NOT NIMBYISMs. We collaborate in planning our communities, our province and our country. We are the public voice in planning our communities where a balance can be found if derived from consultations and open discussion. The honest evaluation of the merits in any arguments to the protection of our most valuable irreplaceable natural heritage assets is an enshrined component of being Canadian.
"WE ARE NOT RED TAPE". We are Canadians. We are Ontario residents. We are the people, the concerned constituents. Our concerns are for the protection of our province and its intrinsic wellbeing. Your constituents, who voted and entrusted ourselves, our lands and our future. We believed in Doug Ford as our Premier to honour and respect us, and these things. We look to our elected Premier entrusted to represent us, protect us, and our lands, and our values. It's about the here and now as well as future considerations, in a way that works. We should not be swept aside so cavalierly.
"WE ARE NOT RED TAPE."
I oppose Bill 23 for its authoritarian content and the effort to invalidate conservation authorities, and environmentally concerned citizens.
We are who voted for Doug Ford ONLY after he expressly committed to protecting the greenbelt from the developers who lobbied Doug Ford, who has stated he is 'hopefull' of results. He doesn't really know. No wonder we are alarmed!
We would rather a consultation collecting ideas on 'affordable housing,' - a collaboration. Instead of the exasperation, the desperation of responding to try and save our province from this plan that amounts to the plunder of vital and irreplaceable components of our Ontario.
It appears that these things we treasure, are evidently thought so little of, and it seems, as are we. The voices in planning our communities are us, by us, for us, as us, with us... We are a lawful participant to developing our communities, aren't we?
We are not going to be okay with making deals against the better judgment and bypassing involvement of those appointed, qualified and who ultimately have expert valuable knowledge of such things. Who are all opposed with good reasons. We look for leadership where a thoughtful balance is sought. That is what is called for, that is what is appropriate. It's the only acceptable way. We can have no confidence or faith in impulse opportunistic bully gratuitous ways, or convenient rationalizations to get one past the 'bothersome' people of Ontario. It's going rogue, to slash and change well-considered laws to ultimately silence and be rid of us, as just 'red tape.'
No one is okay with this.
Except the developers, apparently your friends, who finally won the chase - well and easily played.
"IT'S NOT RED TAPE" The world is burning says the UN. Every Federal Ministers Mandate letters are directed to consider environmental implications. The waters, lands, forests and natural features are an integrated system. It is imperative they must continue to exist in the very little bit there is left, as it is. We are in a climate emergency, every little thing helps.
Regulations are processes, are protections that are there so that we can be careful not to LOSE what has 'already been scrutinized,' and determined to be essential. To be spared from pillage, without respect, and without regard by many who would exploit being 'given' the free-to-the-money rein... Like so many developers in particular, are known for.
The developers propose that increasing supply would drive prices down and make home ownership more affordable - Developers would say that. A well worn tailored-pitch and-shmooze-the-target. Some are better at it than others. A predictable lobbying campaign.
Did you take the bait, Doug Ford? Let's be real. You should know better, you also were a salesman.
Developers who selected and purchased the slated undevelopable GreenBelt parcels cheaply ...and waited... They really wanted it... and waited for the bucks. It's worth ten times that as developable land, for starters. They will not leave a dime on the table; it's not their way.
What a bonanza.. They would have no intentions of affordable homes but were 'hopeful' and aspirational that premium green spaces are sure to fetch premium prices, someday. No studies?, no rules? And they won't have to pay developer fees!? Why not, they are not doing it for free! Why are you taking on the whole province's opposition to this? They need to play the game by the same laws, like everyone else What is this big favour, when they are chomping at the bit for this long shot to payoff?
Weekend traffic is a testament to the desire to get out of the city and into a nature environment.. Its bait. They are looking at premium sales of greenbelt lands promoted as 'living in nature' Sales pitches and marketing campaigns bank well on such nature themes especially as seen throughout southern and central Ontario.
Look at the marketing for natural setting developments... Increasing the supply of homes in these specific carved out greenbelt lands does not indicate that any of these homes will be affordable, or for Ontarians who need affordability, nor is this likely.
It's not likely that Greenbelt homes will be tightly arranged to affordable, when a monster home 'living in Nature trails' will be much more lucrative. It is unbelievable...to think otherwise.
Any 'affordable' housing terms negotiated?. Has the cost range of these home been discussed? Is there a plan of what they are to be like, is that agreed at this time? So what is affordable for these houses? What price range? IF they have to be built within two years the costs and profit can be projected. If it is based on market forces where supply bringing costs down.... that is not how real estate works. Location, Location.
I mean are we paying them, or why are we paying for them? Why is the taxpayer taking the hit? As a taxpayer, as a taxpayer ... SO who is forced to Pay without a say? Injury to insult. This is so offside, offensive.
I wonder that the costs lost and offloaded to the municipalities and ultimately the taxpayers US, could be money better spent building a few apartment towers by the township with that money; increasing density in locations of their own choosing. An Apartment/Condo tower complex with fifty or a hundred or so units would not have to be in the Greenbelt either. That is affordable housing. Density. One thousand buildings with 50 units is 50,000 places. Five hundred Buildings with 100 units, etc. Cottage size houses, town houses strips..etc.
Some people could have some great ideas that we can all be proud of and get behind. Ideas and feedback from consultations with evaluation weighing the merits in any arguments - especially to the protection of our most valuable irreplaceable assets is intelligence.
I understand a lot of the malls in Toronto are going to be torn out for Condo towers, and baby Boomers will not be looking for housing soon enough. How many units is that expected to add?
We are not demanding that Ontario Place turn into a farm or duck refuge with power to comandeer it. Same difference. People who live and work in the city, and those who live and work in the countryside are both dependent on the environment they are in. Who exactly is it that wants to live in these Greenbelt homes? Do you know? Live in farmland, and commute to Toronto in office towers? Most people prefer to live near work.
Farmers feed cities. The vastness of Canada only has seven percent arable land - a patch in Alberta, and the bits left in Southern Ontario - The Greenbelt. The rest of Canada and Ontario is too cold, too dark too long, or rocky. Eighty percent of Canadians live along its southern border. Agriculture employs people and earns billions to the economy, providing and exporting foods. We cannot rely on other countries to feed us. They can control, or choose not to. It is hard to believe the best interests of Ontarians, or that there is much evaluating, is going on with this proposal.
Please read or listen to experts... and care...please reconsider. The fallout can be shown to deliver an irreversible impact and damage on the lands and environment, and ultimately the quality of life for everyone involved, including the costs of it failing to deliver, anything affordable. It cannot be undone!
Articles abound that many hardworking Ontario people do not see home ownership 'ever' affordable, more houses or not, for a myriad of finance, employment/unemployment, related issues. What is affordable? and how do they intend to perform to that, and to whom and by what guarantee?
(The real issues that require leadership is employment for Ontarians, not just a focus on employers and immigration alone.
While many employers cannot find workers. Some industries cannot find them because they are unwilling to pay much. A multitude of job-seeking prospective employees cannot find a decent paying employer or working conditions.) Doug Ford could spend more time on this.
The Home Builders association and Environmental Defense say there is enough land to develop outside the Greenbelt, Kathleen Wynn said there was enough land to build two cities the size of Mississauga. There is developable land shown in Environmental Defence Maps in ideal locations that is not in the Greenbelt. Why is there no plan or pursuit in those places.
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WHY WE VOTED FOR DOUG FORD:
"FOR THE PEOPLE" - Doug Ford 2018 campaign slogan
"I govern through the people, I don't govern through government," he (Doug Ford, when he was a Tory leadership candidate hopeful in 2018) said in explaining the reversal.
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The People - are us - Both Urban, AND RURAL existing tax paying, rate paying, constituents who are entitled to equal considerations and expect regard and representation in Ontario from our elected representatives - and out our Premier.
Ontarians were clear that they are committed to the environment, our natural heritage, climate actions as the condition for election. The main issue is the preservation of the Greenbelt and our natural Heritage, now and for future generations, as promised.
References:Doug Ford reverses his plan, says he will not develop on Greenbelt
- Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian Press Tues. May 1, 2018 4:14PM EDT Updated Tues. May 1, 2018 7:57PM ED
Excerpt:
"Public backlash prompted Doug Ford to backtrack Tuesday on an election promise to allow housing development in a protected green space around the Toronto region, with the Progressive Conservative leader saying he's going to listen to those who want the area preserved.
A Tory government would maintain the Greenbelt in its entirety and enshrine that pledge in the party's soon-to-be-released platform, Ford announced in a statement issued a day after saying he'd open the region to some construction to ease the housing crisis in the Greater Toronto Area.
"I looked at it as making sure we have more affordable housing," Ford said of his initial position. "The people have spoken. I'm going to listen to them, they don't want me to touch the Greenbelt, we won't touch the Greenbelt."
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/ontario-election-2018/doug-ford-rever…
ONTARIO ELECTION 2018
Ford says he would open the Greenbelt for some development if elected
-Shawn Jeffords, The Canadian Press
Published Monday, April 30, 2018 12:07PM EDTLast Updated Tuesday, May 1, 2018 11:43AM EDT
Excerpt:
Ford said the only way to bring down housing costs in the Toronto region and make the market more affordable is to increase the supply. "You build more and hopefully [hopefully?] it will level off," he said. "But it's a tough situation right now."
....
"I've already talked to some of the biggest developers in this country, and I wish I could say it was my idea, but it was their idea as well," he said.
"Give us property and we'll build and we'll drive the cost down."
Environment Minister Chris Ballard, who represents a riding that is home to part of the protected area, accused Ford of quietly planning to pave over it.
"(It's) a plan he has kept from the public but shares privately ... with developers who stand to make big money if Ford wins," he said
....
"When it comes to creating a livable, affordable province, Doug Ford is saying one thing publicly and another in private to his big, rich developer friends," -NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns 2018
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/ontario-election-2018/ford-says-he-wo…
I write this in support of submissions by Environmental Defense, and all those who oppose Bill 23 on the basis of their expertise and knowledge of Environmental and Natural Heritage issues in support of enduring permanent protection of the GreenBelt.
We welcome immigration and understand the value. But this is not the way to go about it.
Yours Truly,
Concerned citizen
Ontario Resident