Dear Graydon Smith,
Contrary to your own government’s advisors, and against the researched condemnation of scientists everywhere, you are totally ignoring the fact that developing the Greenbelt is completely unnecessary for, and counterproductive to providing more affordable housing in the GTA.
Infilling affordable housing on the GTA’s existing available lands – the studies have proven – will be more than adequate. Such housing development is already serviced with all necessary infrastructure and public transportation, and meets progressive 21st-century walkable communities and density criteria for lower income folks.
The unspoiled Greenbelt, in its current state and boundaries, is essential for the future lives of our children and grandchildren, as are conservation authorities which are lacking in most municipalities throughout the province.
Now patently obvious to Ontarians is that high-end developers have leveraged your government. They stand to make millions in building expensive houses on prime expensive land, which is to become additional urban sprawl, but which has been designated for decades by conscientious politicians and professional people as vital to farming, water conservation, biodiversity and healthy air.
It is egregiously shameful that a newly minted “minister of natural resources and forests” should be drawn so quickly into the dark power shadow of the antidemocratic and big-business pandering Ford government, with its short-sighted and environmentally unsound practices. These include your government’s plans for new gasfired generators and reburbished nuclear plants, when grants encourage heat pumps, and as cheap hydro power is readily available at our provincial doorstep in northern Quebec.
Minister Smith, your letter to your constituents and message to the province regarding housing does nothing to address the key need of our time and beyond: environmental and climate consciousness in decision-making.
The Parry Sound-Muskoka thinking electorate will not forget your disrespect of the 40% who did not vote for you, but who still relied on you to represent their commitment to socio-environmentally sound policies. Unfortunately, you are failing to represent them.
John Rivière-Anderson
Newholm, Huntsville
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
David Gibson says
Thank you for this letter John. This is indeed a shameful violation of trust. I’m furious. We must not forget this at the next provincial election. We must work to replace this man and his party, and hope that some of this damage can be limited or reversed.
Nadine Gingrich says
I agree absolutely. The Ford plan to develop the Greenbelt does nothing except justify his desire to build more highways. We need HOUSING, not HOUSES, Mr. Smith. I hope this time you and your boss will actually listen to the people and to the scientists and environmentalists who know exponentially more, and care more about this issue than you do.
Brenda Begg says
John Rivière-Anderson: Thank you. This is a clear, concise, and necessary message. It’s really quite alarming that there are those in power who value profit over the state of our Earth. “We” most certainly need to work to replace those in power who embrace profit.
Allen Markle says
John Riviere-Anderson: You have displayed amazing restraint in your comment about these cretins. You never used any of the epithets which might get one turffed from Doppler. Maybe it’s just the time of year?
Four or eight or twelve years down the road we’re told, and here in Muskoka we get two ‘full service’ hospitals. Maybe. Only one or two more elections. We’ve been told ‘they look out’ for the folks who elect them. We have to re-elect this bunch? Ask any teacher, nurse, government worker, municipality, et al, how that’s shaking out.
In 2026, we will get 438 new child care spaces! Big announcement. Another bribe? Photo-op? Why 4 years down the road? Nobody needs that service now? They punted a billion dollars a year (license renewals) which could have been used to fund some of those spaces now; some for health care maybe.
I hope Dofo and the bobbleheads are gone in three and a bit years. Does Doug sense the wind of change?Perhaps that’s why he feels he must push ahead with the destruction of Greenbelt land. No development, no pay-off?
I can imagine some hands to cheeks, mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. What you said !!! What can be proven? Nothing. Yet.
However, what are people to surmise? There is no reason to do what the Conservatives are doing, EXCEPT for the opportunity to set up some few developers to reap a windfall. So, ‘If it looks like a duck…………….’
Let’s be shed of them the first opportunity we have. But even if it is just happens here in Muskoka, it will give me some satisfaction.
The Romans salted the wells and land of their foes. But this band of Philistines are about to destroy the land of their own people.
We don’t have a Nebuchadnezzar to rid us of them, so it looks like we will have to do it ourselves.
Merry Christmas all. Keep the faith.
Margaret Brown says
Thank you so very much for this open letter. I appreciate your words very much