Parks Canada warns of ‘irreversible harm’ if Ontario proceeds with Greenbelt development: The Narwhal, Dec. 5, 2022

A letter reviewed by The Narwhal shows Parks Canada is warning Ontario’s plans to build houses in the Greenbelt could harm wildlife, ecosystems and agriculture

A Dec. 5, 2022 Narwhal article by Emma McIntosh is entitled: “Parks Canada warns of ‘irreversible harm’ if Ontario proceeds with Greenbelt development.”

The subhead reads: “A letter reviewed by The Narwhal shows Parks Canada is warning Ontario’s plans to build houses in the Greenbelt could harm wildlife, ecosystems and agriculture.”

An excerpt (I have omitted embedded links) reads:

Parks Canada says Ontario would be violating an agreement between the federal and provincial governments if it goes ahead with plans to open up parts of the Greenbelt for development.

In a letter sent to the Ontario government and a legislative committee, viewed by The Narwhal, Parks Canada said the agreement mandates the province to consult before changing the boundaries of the Greenbelt. It was penned for the protection of Rouge National Urban Park, at the eastern edge of Toronto, which borders a portion of the Greenbelt in Pickering, Ont., called the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve. The preserve is among the areas set to be removed from the Greenbelt.

Ontario hasn’t yet consulted Parks Canada about the removals, said the letter, dated Nov. 29 and signed by Omar McDadi, a field unit superintendent at Rouge National Urban Park. If Ontario goes ahead with the changes to the Greenbelt, it would violate that agreement and likely hurt Rouge National Urban Park, species at risk and farmland, Parks Canada said.