greenbelt

In December, OALA joined the growing number of people and organizations who are concerned about the fate of Ontario’s Greenbelt Plan, in the wake of recent provincial legislation. Doug Ford’s provincial government intends to give over land designated as part of the Greenbelt to housing development— farmland and natural habitats in Southern Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe that have, for years, been protected by legislation as a way to preserve agriculture and important ecosystems and watersheds, and combat climate change and suburban sprawl.

OALA’s chief concerns and questions about this plan include:

• the scientific criteria and rationale for the land removal identified

• impacts on natural functions and sustainability

• impacts on finite resources and sprawl

While OALA stated in a December 2 letter the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing that it appreciates efforts to tackle the ongoing housing affordability crisis in Ontario, it warns “the Association believes, in the absence of knowing the science behind the Province’s proposed changes to the Greenbelt Plan, that removal of areas from the policy area could have significant long term environmental consequences. Without this information and while other housing and development options exist, including urban infill options, we cannot support the proposed changes and loss of land in the protected Greenbelt area.”

OALA hopes to be provided with the necessary missing information it outlined, and to have a continuing, healthy and productive dialogue with the provincial government.