We get that talking to politicians can be hard. It’s not always easy to know what to say or what issues to prioritize. And with the Ontario election in full swing, the MPP candidates are popping up all over. But don’t worry, we got you covered!
Regardless where you run into a a candidate, whether at the farmers’ market or when they’re door knocking, it’s always a good opportunity to respectfully let them know what your main concerns are – and ask them how they plan to address it. So for the upcoming election, ECA has prepared some key messages and questions you can use when speaking with candidates to let them know you support our mission of stopping inappropriate development along the Escarpment and preserving our natural spaces for generations to come.
Key Messages:
- The Escarpment in our area is unique and deserves special protections – it’s even internationally recognized for its diverse plants and wildlife as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
- The Niagara Escarpment Plan does not offer the kind of conservation that the area needs. There are currently developments such as the one at Castle Glen or Huntingwood Trails which will vastly impact our environment.
- The Castle Glen development is planning to build 1,600 new homes, hotels, and golf courses on over 1,500 acres of old forest on the brow of the Escarpment. This makes no sense, and the province needs to step in to stop it.
- The Huntingwood Trails development threatens Silver Creek and a Provincially Significant Wetland – the Ontario government’s own designation. This not only destroys habitats for trout and salmon but could increase pollution in Georgian Bay.
- Protecting the environment and our natural spaces – especially in our riding – isn’t just the top issue for me, it’s the same for many of my friends and neighbours as well as voters across the province.
Questions:
- I’ve read the party platform promises on the environment, and some are better than others, but what I want to hear is what will you do for our riding?
- Will you commit to using the province’s planning authority to create nature corridors in our region connecting green spaces so plants and wildlife not only survive but thrive?
- What will you do to ensure the onslaught of development in the riding is responsible and balances growth with the need to protect the environment and our natural heritage?