Chris Tomsett and Grace Tomsett
Mike Schreiner and Danielle Valiquette
Protesters opposed to the Ford government’s new housing legislation took to the streets of downtown Owen Sound Tuesday afternoon.
The More Homes Built Faster Act, or Bill 23, was passed into law more than two months ago, but there are still some people who are unhappy with the changes.
Concerns over changes to the greenbelt and the role of conservation authorities were among those shared by protesters in Owen Sound Tuesday.
About 70 people from across Bruce and Grey counties took part.
Ontario Green leader Mike Schreiner attended. He acknowledges the Bill has received royal assent, but continues to oppose changes to the greenbelt, saying Ontarians need to maintain ‘people powered pressure’ on the Ford government.
“I think people are going to continue to keep pushing and telling the Premier, Doug Ford– keep your promise, keep your hands off the Greenbelt. He promised multiple times that he would not develop the Greenbelt and so, for him to betray the people of Ontario, by breaking that promise is wrong,” says Schreiner.
On December 21st, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing released a decision amending the Greenbelt Area remove 15 areas of land from the Greenbelt and add 13 new Urban River Valley areas and lands in the Paris Galt Moraine in Wellington County. It said, “The area of the proposed Paris Galt Moraine lands is in addition to these Urban River Valley areas, totaling 9,400 acres for an overall expansion to the Greenbelt of approximately 2000 acres. The total lands added are greater than or equal to the area of the lands removed from the Greenbelt Plan under this decision.”
Schreiner doesn’t think it’s a fair exchange, saying,”The land they’ve added back into the Greenbelt was already protected land. So, to say you’re going to take protections away from farmland and wetlands and green space and then add land in that’s already protected isn’t an equivalent swap. The other thing I would say is, that land is protected for a reason. It’s the farmland that feeds us, it’s the wetlands and green space that clean our drinking water and protect us from flooding. The more the Ford government paves over it, the more we are all going to pay the price,” says Schreiner.
Protest organizer Danielle Valiquette says, “I think, clearly the amount of people that are here today on a rather chilly day is just proof that this isn’t necessarily a 905 issue. As far as I know, everybody in Ontario eats, so clearly farmland and local food is critical.”
Protester Ben Caesar from Kimberley says his main concern is also the greenbelt. “It’s such a valuable slice of farmland and wetlands. This is something that was supposed to be protected forever and the fact that a government can come in and sort of single handedly wipe it away, or wipe parts of it away is a tragedy.”
He doesn’t support the changes to the role of conservation authorities either, saying, “It’s a disastrous bill for protection of the environment. Certainly the sort of, cutting away of the powers of the conservation authority is a terrible thing.”
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Another protester Chris Tomsett wore a homemade poncho that said “Stop The Sprawl” to the protest. He says, “It’s the Greenbelt I’m concerned about for sure. Once they start cutting it, there’s no stopping it for sure. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
Penny Garvin was there to oppose the Bill, “It’s bad for our generation, it’s bad for our children’s generation and any future generations.” She adds, “I am so much, into conservation and doing something for other generations.”
Ben Caesar
