Green space, conservation…

Green space, conservation areas and natural places need to exist throughout communities in abundance, not in parcels and not tacked on to the Paris Galt Moraine. The proposed areas for development are not one for one in comparison, they are different types of landscapes, each with unique diversity of plants and animals. They are not simply accounted for nor replaced by expanding the Paris Galt Moraine. We need to urban plan sustainably, with a density approach, not sprawling infrastructure. The generations that come after us will thank Ontario elected officials and citizens that cared and found innovative ways to keep the natural heritage of our province in tact rather than begrudge us for a lack of cleverness, foresight and access to wilderness. These proposed amendments of the Greenbelt Plan does not keep Ontario beautiful and reduces places to discover that make our province and country an exceptional place to live, work and play. The proposed plan places emphasis on the immediate economical gain of development, it does not address the long term nature deficit and economical cost of developing over a diversity of nature and its systems. Yes, we need to address a growing population, that does not mean we need more houses and it does not mean we need to accommodate at the expense of irreplaceable nature. It is possible to develop win win solutions - economical gains without sacrificing nature. The proposed plan is not a win win. Canada and Ontario is in a unique position to conserve high value nature, unlike many countries in the world. However that unique nature is not “out there” it’s in our backyards, it’s in our most dense communities and it’s all our responsibility to take care of it. Please do not develop the little precious forests, wetlands and other critical nature left in our most populous areas. Once it’s gone, we cannot put it back.

Publications on valuing and the economical benefits of keeping nature systems in tact:

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/beyond-gdp-making-nature-co…

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/climate-change-economic-cost-wor…

https://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2021/02/10/the-price-of-nature/

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/06/30/mythbusters-uncove…

Urban green planning

https://www.ansgroupglobal.com/blog/importance-urban-greening/amp