Ontario Government Announces Expansion of Greenbelt

Friends of the Greenbelt news release January 10 2014 

The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation applauds Premier Dalton McGuinty on his announcement on expanding Ontario’s Greenbelt.

At more than 1.8 million acres of protected green space, Ontario’s Greenbelt is the world’s largest Greenbelt, preserving productive agricultural lands, ecologically valuable lands and contributing more than $9 billion to the province’s economy each year.

“In an increasingly urbanized world where clean air, fresh water, healthy local food and a thriving economy are essential for success – Ontario’s Greenbelt is the solution,” said Burkhard Mausberg, CEO, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.

The expansion includes the addition of 265 hectares of land in Oakville in the form of the Glenorchy Conservation Area. Also included is a new urban river valley designation, allowing municipalities to conserve and protect important waterways while ensuring their complex planning needs are met.

“This is the right balance for growing the Greenbelt. We look forward to working with municipalities to ensure that valuable lands along urban rivers are protected and maintained for many generations to come,” said Mausberg.

About the Greenbelt:

Fresh air, clean water, healthy local food – all brought to you by Ontario’s Greenbelt. At more than 1.8 million acres, it’s the world’s largest permanently protected greenbelt, keeping our farmlands, forests, and wetlands safe and sustainable. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation works to help keep farmers successful, strengthen local economies, and protect and grow natural features. Join us! Learn more at: www.greenbelt.ca or find us on Twitter and Facebook

Ontario government website January 4 2013 

Ontario’s Greenbelt is nearly 2 million acres of permanently protected green space, farmland, vibrant communities, forests, wetlands, and watersheds. The Greenbelt was established under the Greenbelt Act, 2005 and includes the land protected by the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and land known as the Protected Countryside.   

The Greenbelt was grown for the first time in January 2013 since its creation in 2005. Following public consultations, an amendment was made to the Greenbelt Plan and the Greenbelt Area boundary regulation that expanded the Greenbelt.       

Amendment No. 1 amends the Greenbelt Plan by:

Adding a new Urban River Valley designation that could apply to publicly owned lands to support the protection of natural heritage systems in urban areas. The designation allows municipal official plan policies that have regard for Greenbelt Plan objectives to govern the lands. 

Adding the provincially owned Glenorchy lands (approximately 254 hectares/630 acres) in Oakville to the Greenbelt under the Urban River Valley designation.