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Decentralized Democracy

Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy

  • MPP
  • Member of Provincial Parliament
  • Pickering—Uxbridge
  • Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
  • Ontario
  • Suite 213 1550 Kingston Rd. Pickering, ON L1V 1C3
  • tel: 905-509-0336
  • fax: 905-509-0334
  • Peter.Bethlenfalvy@pc.ola.org

  • Government Page
  • Oct/27/22 9:10:00 a.m.
  • Re: Bill 23 

Thank you to the member opposite for this question. I think, as the Minister of Natural Resources would have responded had it been directed to him, Mr. Speaker, that the conservation lands are being protected here for the purpose that they were set up for when Hurricane Hazel came through in the 1950s. They were set up to protect the lands against floods and propose flood mitigations. That remains at the core of the conservation authorities, and our minister has very articulately put forward concisely that’s what this plan addresses. In fact, they’ve done a very good job to make sure that flood mitigation, that protecting the lands against flooding, to protect homes further downstream—that is their core responsibility. That remains intact, Mr. Speaker, and that is a core part of our plan to move forward.

But at the same time, Mr. Speaker, the status quo is not an option in this province. Some 200,000 more people come to this province every year to call home. Where are they going to live? We have too many people that can’t afford or can’t attain houses for their—front doors and back doors and apartments and rental units that meet their needs, that meet their budgets.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would submit that this plan is dealing with the challenges in front of us boldly, and taking us on behalf of all Ontarians to provide them the dream of home ownership.

245 words
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