This is an excerpt from Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s report on the decision of the Doug Ford government to remove 7,400 acres from the Greenbelt for housing development:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Agriculture Ministry) expects the Greenbelt area removals to have significant adverse agricultural land impacts. The Agriculture Ministry’s non-political public service staff have estimated that 7 per cent of the approximately 7,400 acres removed from the Greenbelt was in active agricultural use in 2022. About 83 per cent of the area removed is classified as Class 1-3 prime agricultural lands, which is of the highest quality and capability for agriculture. Staff determined that the boundary changes will result in a net removal of more than 4,700 acres of land designated and protected by municipalities as prime agricultural area. They also concluded that removing three of the 15 sites (Sites #1, #4 and #9) from the Greenbelt, making up 91 per cent of the total acres removed, is likely to lead to significant adverse impacts on agriculture given the sites’ large size, existing agricultural uses, and connection to nearby farmland. The Agriculture Ministry staff conducted additional analysis for our Office and estimated that the removed Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve lands generated an estimated $14.7 million to Ontario’s gross domestic product in 2021. IImportant environmental features on land sites removed from the Greenbelt face increased risk of damage or degradation. The 2022 Greenbelt boundary changes removed almost 1,000 acres of wetlands and woodlands from the Greenbelt. Without the protection provided by the Greenbelt Plan, these natural features are at increased risk of being paved over, drained, cut down or polluted. The damage or degradation of green spaces can increase flooding, impair water quality, contribute to climate change and reduce biodiversity. Environment and Climate Change Canada has reportedly identified that at least 29 species at risk live, or are likely to live, in the removed sites. Although natural heritage features and areas on these lands are still subject to the Provincial Policy Statement and ongoing negotiations between the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator and landowners/ developers, it is unclear whether this will ensure protection of natural heritage features and areas. A total of 117 wetlands removed from the Greenbelt were within the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve lands, 110 of which have never been evaluated and are therefore not protected through the Provincial Policy Statement. Despite potential risks, Housing Ministry public service staff confirmed there is no plan in place to monitor the status and protection of natural features on removed lands during future housing development.
