QUEEN'S PARK - Thanks to all those in London who have signed petitions to protect the Greenbelt from the Ford government's plans to pave over farmlands and wetlands so wealthy PC-connected landowners can benefit.
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Ms. Peggy Sattler: I’d like to thank the hundreds of Londoners who have signed this petition to protect the greenbelt. It reads:
“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
“Whereas Bill 23 is the Ford government’s latest attempt to remove protected land from the greenbelt, allowing developers to bulldoze and pave over 7,000 acres of farmland in the greenbelt;
“Whereas Ontario is already losing 319.6 acres of farmland and green space daily to development;
“Whereas the government’s Housing Affordability Task Force found there are plenty of places to build homes without destroying the greenbelt;
“Whereas Ford’s repeated moves to tear up farmland and bulldoze wetlands have never been about housing, but are about making the rich richer;
“Whereas green spaces and farmland are what we rely on to grow our food, support natural habitats and prevent flooding;
“Therefore we, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to immediately amend Bill 23, stop all plans to further remove protected land from the greenbelt and protect existing farmland in the province by passing the NDP’s Protecting Agricultural Land Act.”
I couldn’t agree more with this petition, will affix my signature and send it to the table with page Scarlett.