Sample Letter for Expanding the Greenbelt
TOMORROW March 7, 2018 is the last day to submit comments and ask that further Brantford and County of Brant lands be included in the Greenbelt Expansion Plan. Read more about the issue here, and our primer of issues and definitions here.
It’s not too late to send emails — Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) submission email: protectingwater@ontario.ca
Click to send
Click this link to send the following message as an email automatically.
Believe us, it’s sooooooo easy! Just don’t forget to add your own information to the email. (If it doesn’t work for you, just copy and paste the message below.)
The letter (copy/paste):
Date ______________
Dear Premier Wynne:
Cc: Hon Minister Mauro, Municipal Affairs; Hon Minister Leal, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Hon Minister Ballard, Environment and Climate Change, Hon Minister Milczyn, Housing; Hon Minister Des Rosiers, Natural Resources and Forestry; Hon Deputy Premier Matthews
I am pleased the government is taking this important step to protect the water systems we all depend on. Protecting these lands from urban development is particularly important for communities and farms that rely heavily on groundwater supplies such as Brant County, Brantford, Six Nations and the communities of the Grand River watershed. The only alternative — building costly infrastructure to pipe in water from the Great Lakes — will only increase pressure to sprawl outside already built-up areas, paving over areas important for preventing flooding, recharging underground aquifers and farming.
Save, Don’t Pave
The health of a series of headwaters, moraines, wetlands, aquifers and recharge lands that ring the current Greenbelt, are experiencing a range of ongoing threats and impacts from development. Inappropriate growth will incur economic costs for taxpayers and municipalities exceed the watershed’s capacity to assimilate waste, and may threaten farmers’ irrigation sources and lead to local species extinctions.
While we support the government’s current proposal to protect more of the region’s water supply, a larger proposal by over 120 community groups would protect drinking water supplies for 1.25 million residents, a number forecasted to increase to 2 million by 2041. We urge you to consider these lands in your expansion.
I’m one of the 9 in 10!
Nine in ten Ontarians say growing the Greenbelt is important to protect water, farmland, and natural habitats from sprawl. The region must accommodate an estimated 4 million more residents by 2041 without increasing pressure on vulnerable water supplies, and in so doing undermining our health and prosperity. Stronger provincial protection to ensure growth pressures, drought and climate change do not endanger water supplies in the future will safeguard local farm, tourism and wildlife, well into the future. By permanently protecting farmland, water supplies and air-purifying forests from sprawl, the positive impacts of the Greenbelt will become evident over time. The looming realities of climate change only magnify the Greenbelt’s importance and underline the urgency to act and expand its reach.
There are significant areas that were left out of the province’s proposed map. Please include:
- Urban river valleys in Paris and Brantford, including Tutela Heights
- The headwaters and key water features between Brantford and the Hamilton boundary
- The Grand River watershed throughout Brant County
- Whiteman’s Creek west of Brantford
Sincerely,
____________________________________________
Print name + Signature
____________________________________________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Physical address
Who to send this to?
Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) submission email: protectingwater@ontario.ca
Premier Kathleen Wynne
Room 281, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1
kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.orgHon Minister Bill Mauro, Municipal Affairs
Ministry of Municipal Affairs
17th Floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5
bmauro.mpp.co@liberal.ola.orgHon Minister Jeff Leal, Ministry of Agriculture
Food and Rural Affairs
11th Floor
77 Grenville Street
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1B3
jleal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.orgHon Minister Chris Ballard, Environment and Climate Change
Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
11th Floor, Ferguson Block
77 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2T5
cballard.mpp.co@liberal.ola.orgHon Minister Peter Milczyn
Ministry of Housing / Ministry Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy
17th Floor
777 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5
Pmilczyn.mpp.co@liberal.ola.orgHon Minister Nathalie Des Rosiers
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Suite 6630, 6th Floor, Whitney Block
99 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1W3
NDesRosiers.mpp.CO@liberal.ola.orgHon Deputy Premier Deborah Matthews
Premier’s Office
Room 6521, 6th Floor, Whitney Block
99 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1
dmatthews.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Again, click to send – it’s easy!
Click this link to send the following message as an email automatically. Believe us, it’s sooooooo easy! Just don’t forget to add your own information in the letter.
(If it doesn’t work for you, just copy and paste the message above.)
