Protect Ontario Water Supplies: Grow our Greenbelt
- by: Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation
- recipient: Minister of Municipal Affairs, Bill Mauro
Ontario's water supplies are under threat from urban sprawl and climate change. The Greater Golden Horseshoe is among the fastest growing regions in North America. Already home to 6 million Ontarians, the region is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent in the 15 years, putting extreme pressures on already-vulnerable water resources. That's why we need protect our water by expanding Ontario's Greenbelt now before it's too late.
The last 13 years have shown us that the Greenbelt can protect nature, water and farmland and inhibit destructive sprawl. Right now, the government is consulting the public on growing the Greenbelt to protect vital water resources at risk, but their current proposal will leave some critical water systems unprotected.
A coalition representing more than 120 groups and 500,000 members has put together an ambitious, science-based plan for a 'Bluebelt' of protected water supplies around the Greenbelt - Scientists and local residents worry that leaving any of these lands out would put both the water resources and the economy of the whole region at risk.
We need to make sure that the government's proposed Greenbelt expansion covers all of the significant water systems under immediate threat from urbanization and sprawl to keep our water safe, clean and plentiful.
Thousands of Ontarians have already sent letters of support for this initiative to Minister of Municipal Affairs Bill Mauro. Today, become a Friend of the Greenbelt and join them by signing our petition to tell the Minister you support a bigger, permanent Greenbelt.
Water is our most precious resource. We are 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 Simcoe County, Waterloo, Guelph-Wellington and Brant County. 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 "Bluebelt" proposed 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.
Permanently protecting farmland, water supplies and air-purifying forests from sprawl, the positive impacts of the Greenbelt will only become more important over time. As our region continues to grow rapidly, the Greenbelt maintains a healthy, world-class quality of life and prosperous economy. The looming realities of climate change only magnify the Greenbelt's importance and underline the urgency to act and expand its reach.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
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