[getsmart-l] FYI: Provincial News Release: Growing the Greenbelt

[John O'Gorman]

Growing the Greenbelt
     McGuinty Government Outlines Criteria To Expand Greenbelt Boundaries     TORONTO, Feb. 21 /CNW/ - The Ontario government wants to hear Ontarians'ideas on how to consider requests to expand the Greenbelt's boundaries andfurther protect countryside areas.    "As the Greenbelt nears its third anniversary, Ontarians andmunicipalities have seen how it benefits their communities. We want to helpmunicipalities strike the right balance between protecting greenspaces andmeeting the needs of their growing communities," said Jim Watson, Minister ofMunicipal Affairs and Housing.    The government has developed draft criteria that, once finalized, wouldbe used to consider requests from regional, county and single-tier governmentsto expand the Greenbelt's boundaries. Requests to reduce the size of theGreenbelt or remove areas from it would not be considered.    The draft criteria are available for review and comment on the ministry'swebsite at www.greenbelt.ontario.ca. Comments must be received by April 30,2008. They are also posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry whichcan be accessed at www.ebr.gov.on.ca.    "Growing the Greenbelt, which is already the size of Prince EdwardIsland, means more green space to help reduce the impact of global warmingfacing our province," said John Gerretsen, Environment Minister. "This is goodfor everyone in Ontario not just those in the Greater Golden Horseshoe."    The Greenbelt Council recommended last year that the government developcriteria to consider Greenbelt expansion requests.    "Today's announcement is evidence that the government is taking ouradvice seriously. This is the beginning of the process to expand theGreenbelt," said Dr. Robert Elgie, Chair of the Greenbelt Council.    "This important announcement will strengthen the Greenbelt's ability toprotect the things Ontarians love. We congratulate the McGuinty government forits continuing leadership in safeguarding Ontario's precious greenspace andlook forward to getting to work with the Province and municipalities to expandthe Greenbelt," said Dr. Rick Smith of Environmental Defence.    The Greenbelt, which was created in February 2005, permanently protectsmore than 1.8 million acres of agricultural and environmentally sensitive landaround the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The Greenbelt is part of the McGuintygovernment's commitment to environmental protection. It is also a keycomponent of the province's reform of the planning system, which includeschanges to the Provincial Policy Statement and the creation of the Growth Planfor the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Most recently, reforms to the Planning Actthat came into force on January 1, 2007, complement the Greenbelt by providingadditional municipal tools that encourage sustainable development.     Disponible en français     <<                             www.ontario.ca/mah       Backgrounder    -------------------------------------------------------------------------             ONTARIANS INVITED TO COMMENT ON GROWING THE GREENBELT    >>     The government has released draft criteria that it may use to considerrequests from regional, county and single-tier municipalities to grow theGreenbelt. This is an opportunity to make the Greenbelt bigger by furtherprotecting countryside areas beyond the existing Greenbelt. Requests to reducethe size of the Greenbelt or remove areas from it would not be considered.     The criteria are available online at www.greenbelt.ontario.ca.     The Greenbelt     Created in February 2005, the Greenbelt is 1.8 million acres of landstretching from the Niagara Peninsula in the southwest to Rice Lake in theeast, including the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine. TheGreenbelt permanently protects environmentally sensitive and agriculturallands from development.    The Greenbelt permanently protects some of Ontario's most valuable greenspaces, farmland, forests, wetlands and watersheds.    It is an important element of the government's plan to tackle gridlock,contain sprawl and preserve greenspace.    Protecting greenspace and ensuring our communities "Grow Green," is animportant part of our aggressive and integrated approach to tackling climatechange in Ontario. By curbing urban sprawl and offering local foods, theGreenbelt helps reduce greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions.     Building the Greenbelt     The process of building the Greenbelt in 2004-2005 involved extensiveconsultation and collaboration between the Province and its partners. TheGreenbelt Task Force, an advisory group that conducted public meetings, ledthe process. Its recommendations to the minister of Municipal Affairs andHousing in August 2004 were the foundation of the Greenbelt Plan.    The Greenbelt Area was determined, in part, by identifying a naturalheritage system and defining an agricultural system. A systems approachconsiders that the health of plants, animals - including people - and naturalfeatures are related and connected to each other and to our own well-being.Together, these components form the Greenbelt's protected countryside.    The provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe was developedat the same time as the Greenbelt Plan to ensure that the needs of growingcommunities were met. The Growth Plan provides direction on where and how togrow and protect what is valuable to a community.     The Greenbelt Act     The Greenbelt Act, 2005 calls for a ten year review of the Greenbelt Planto assess its effectiveness and make changes, as necessary. This consultationprocess on draft criteria does not impact the ten year review planned for2015.     Draft Criteria     Ontarians are invited to review the draft criteria and send theircomments to:     Greenbelt Expansions    Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing    14th Floor, 777 Bay Street    Toronto, ON  M5G 2E5    Fax: 416-585-4245    Email: greenbelt at ontario.ca     Comments must be received by April 30, 2008.     Disponible en français     <<                             www.ontario.ca/mah    >>  -30-For further information: Adam Grachnik, Minister Watson's Office, (416)585-6492; Audrey Bennett, Provincial Planning Policy Branch, (416) 585-6072 
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