Ontario is one of the most beautiful places. We have an abundance of natural resources and our greenspace is among the most remarkable in the world. But Ontario is always growing and, as a result, large chunks of fine agricultural land were being paved over.

Our government realized that Ontarians wanted something more than sprawling development, congestion and pollution. That’s why we came up with the Greenbelt and its policy twin, Places To Grow. These two land use approaches provide a blueprint for addressing growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

The Greenbelt protects 1.8 million acres of some of Ontario’s most valuable farmland and environmentally-sensitive areas. Research shows that the Greenbelt contributes essential ecosystem services and benefits – clean water and air – worth $2.6 billion a year. It protects the headwaters of dozens of rivers and streams and shelters valuable groundwater resources and watersheds. It protects the habitat of 66 endangered species and more than a million acres of farmland.

In 2008, our government introduced new criteria for municipalities that wanted to add lands to the Greenbelt, which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. To mark the occasion, Toronto City Council declared its intention to apply to expand the Greenbelt to permanently protect the Don and Humber River Valleys.

Growing the Greenbelt is only one part of Ontario’s plan to protect the environment and develop a prosperous sustainable economy. The Green Energy Act was designed to boost investment in renewable energy projects and increase conservation, while creating green jobs and economic growth in Ontario for today – and the future.

As part of the Green Energy Act, our government signed an agreement with a consortium led by Samsung C&T Corporation and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), which will invest $7 billion in Ontario to generate 2,500 megawatts of wind and solar power over the next six years. It will lead to more than 16,000 new green energy jobs to build, install and operate the renewable generation projects.  

This agreement firmly establishes Ontario as the leader in green energy manufacturing in North America, creating jobs for our families while preserving our environment for generations of Ontarians to come.

We want to ensure generations of Ontarians to come will enjoy the remarkable greenspace and pristine environment that this province has to offer. For more information on what our government is doing to protect the environment, contact my office at 905-690-6552.