Getting your say on the Greenbelt strategy
A political point of view
By Julia Munro MPP, York-Simcoe

MPP Julia Munro

On April 24, the provincial government is holding a consultation on expanding the Toronto Greenbelt into Simcoe County.

This expansion could affect the quality of life of you and your family and it is important that everyone have their say. In my York- Simcoe constituency, most of Bradford West Gwillimbury and all of Innisfil are outside the greenbelt.

The only part of the county it currently covers is the Holland Marsh.

The government is asking for input on six draft criteria. Firstly, they want requests to expand the greenbelt to come from municipalities. They want expansions to meet the vision and goals of the greenbelt and they want extensions to be attached to the current greenbelt. The added areas should fit into the province's Places to Grow development plan and other provincial policies.

A number of questions need to be answered by the government on this plan.

How will any extensions affect the issue of leapfrogging? With most of York Region now in the greenbelt, development is being pushed into Simcoe County.

The large proposed development in Bond Head is a good illustration. If for example, Bradford (but not Innisfil), is put in the greenbelt will that mean leapfrog growth in Innisfil?

Should we be thinking in terms of a Toronto greenbelt, when so much of the growth pressure is coming southwards from Barrie?

If large parts of the county are placed in a greenbelt, what does this mean for intensification of development? It only stands to reason that if the government freezes development in certain areas then the areas in which development is allowed will have to intensify. Would this require multi-story buildings in already existing communities in Innisfil?

Innisfil already faces many challenges in meeting infrastructure needs - for roads, bridges and sewers. Much of Innisfil's population lives in a chain of towns and villages along the lake. Intensifying each of these communities would be expensive. Roads, sewers and water pipes would have to be improved or installed.

How would a greenbelt affect local farmers? What affect would it have on property values? Will decisions on local planning issues remain in Innisfil and Simcoe County or be moved to Toronto?

These are all questions that I would like to see the government answer. I urge you to tell the government what you think at the consultation on Thursday. I also urge you to let me know your opinion of expanding the greenbelt to Innisfil. It is important to me that I know your views.

To find out more about what the government is proposing, check out the Ministry of Municipal Affairs website at www.mah.gov.on.ca. The April 24 consultation is in Barrie's Ferndale Banquet Hall from 5 to 9.30 p.m. The hall is located at 24 Ferndale Industrial Drive.

You can contact me at julia.munro@pc.ola.org or by phone at 905-478-2572. Also, look for the launch of my new website at www.juliamunrompp.com in early May.