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Flynn working to add Glenorchy to Greenbelt By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Ontario legislature may be prorogued, but Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn is working to extend Ontario's Greenbelt to include Glenorchy Conservation Area in northwest Oakville. Adding the 1,000 acre-conservation area, roughly bounded by Regional Road 25, Hwy. 407, Neyagawa Boulevard, and Dundas Street, to Ontario's 1.8 million-acre Greenbelt would give it an additional level of protection, said Flynn. That's important, he said, as Oakville and Halton continue to grow and develop. "It gets the protection that is envisioned by the Greenbelt. It becomes part of a continuous connection of environmental features," said Flynn. "I really think Oakville has the potential to be a gateway to the Greenbelt. It has been a very successful program, people like it. It is the largest piece of protected green space in the world." Flynn said adding Glenorchy to the Greenbelt could also create opportunities for eco-tourism, but more than anything, he said, it symbolizes that Ontario is serious about protecting its green space. The Province owns the land assembly was given to the Town as parkland and land was provided on which to build the new Oakville hospital. Flynn said he has written to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to request the Greenbelt extension. He also said he is eager to work with the Town and the Region to see the endeavor accomplished and pointed out the Town, Region and Province have already been in discussion over how to maximize the protection of these lands. Although the legislature has been prorogued, it doesn't mean the provincial government comes to a halt, noted Flynn. "When the House isn't sitting, you are not passing new laws, but the administration of the old laws and the changes in legislation, which can be done by regulation, continues," said Flynn. "Cabinet still meets, Caucus still meets, the Cabinet Committee still meets... We don't need the House to pass any new laws for this to happen. My understanding is this could be done largely by regulation." Flynn was unable to give any kind of timeline for when this Greenbelt expansion might take place. Established in 2005 by the Ontario government, the Greenbelt includes the Niagara Escarpment, the Oak Ridges Moraine, Rouge Park, agricultural land, pristine environment and hundreds of rural towns and villages. 9 · Thursday, November 8, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Flynn has called a press conference in Palermo tomorrow (Friday) on this issue. SPECIALIZING IN INTERIOR DOORS, WOOD TRIM & HARDWARE 3 DOOR STYLES IN STOCK Kevin Flynn Glenorchy sits on with Flynn stating previous governments expressed interest in selling portions of it to the private sector so an employment park could be constructed. Much land in west Oakville, particularly around the Bronte Creek, was included in what was known in the 1970s as the Parkway Belt West. That plan saw green spaces surrounding urban development envelopes across Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Milton. Glenorchy lands were part of a more than 1,200-acre land mass owned by the provincial government and called the Oakville Land Assembly. Early in the Liberal government's tenure, it handed over management of the 1,000-acre parcel, now called Glenorchy, to Conservation Halton, but retained its ownership. A smaller portion of the FREE ONE FRONT DOOR GRIP SET TO THE FIRST 24 PEOPLE WITH ORDERS OVER $50000 EXCLUDING HST (APPROXIMATE VALUE $12000) A - 373 Wyecroft Rd., Oakville FALL 905-844-5335 HOME SALE Dining tables from $89999 * See store for details THOMASVILLE BURLINGTON 2269 Fairview Street, Burlington Ph. 905-631-6000