Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph, Mike Schreiner, will be joining local environmental advocates to ‘save the farmland and wetlands from development’ opened up by Bill 23 and its related policies.
“Ford refuses to listen to the experts, and instead is bulldozing over Ontario’s decreasing farmland and wetlands allowing a handful of land speculators to profit at the rest of Ontario’s expense,” says organizer Danielle Valiquette.
Advocates are rallying against Bill 23 and its associated policies, that will result in the sell- off of conservation lands without oversight, strip conservation authorities of their powers and remove protections from woodlands, wetlands and wildlife habitat.
“Bill 23 will devastate farmland, all while doing almost nothing to build more affordable homes as it is positioned,” says Valiquette. “Ford’s own housing Affordability Task Force has made it clear that we can build the homes we need within existing urban boundaries, and not on the farmland and wetlands that perform vital environmental and agricultural functions … like feed us!”
Last week, Schreiner worked across party lines and joined Ontario NDP Leadership candidate and MPP for Davenport, Marit Stiles, as well as Ontario Interim Liberal and MPP for Ottawa South, John Fraser, to ask the Auditor General to assess financial and environmental impacts of Greenbelt land development.
Advocates will be picketing Tuesday January 31st from 4 PM to 5 PM starting at the Gitche Namewikwedong Bridge (10th Street Bridge) in Owen Sound.
