'A PLACE TO GROW' IS DESTROYING NIAGARA'S ATTRACTIVENESS

Drive to almost any municipality in Niagara and it is clear what Premier Ford envisioned when he changed our licence plates to read "A PLACE TO GROW." Neighbourhoods that were formerly rural or country have been overtaken by seemingly unchecked suburban-like residential sprawl. Fort Erie, Ridgeway, and Crystal Beach, and many other townships are becoming unrecognizable.

Rampant clear-cutting to build new GTA-like subdivisions, damaged roadways from the daily convoy of construction related vehicles, and associated garbage lining the worksites and adjacent roads leaves some of us to fondly reminisce of the eras when our licence plates read "Keep it Beautiful," or "Yours to Discover." Each year, in Niagara at least, there seems to be less beautiful things to discover!

One current, and long term ramification of town leaders bending under the weight of the Premier's pressure to solve the housing shortage will be the continued destruction of our natural beauty and the displacement of deer, coyotes, owls, eagles and other wildlife. Soon hikers, nature enthusiasts, adventurers, and bird watchers will need to travel outside Niagara to enjoy their hobbies.

At the current pace, I wonder how long it will be until Ontario licence plates will read "NO GREEN SPACE LEFT," "SUBURBIA EVERYWHERE," "LIVE ELSEWHERE," or