Floods or Food

Floods or Food - Smart Choices for Healthy Communities.

This publication was researched & written by Janet Pelley with support from Salamander Foundation and Greenbelt Foundation.

CONCLUSION

Durham Region politicians continue to thumb their noses at our laws guiding land use. Despite a warning from the province, these politicians are persisting in short-sighted efforts to pave over the headwaters of Carruthers Creek in Northeast Pickering. This would be a calamity, for not only would it lead to more flooding and polluted runoff, but we would permanently lose an opportunity to grow sustainable agricultural jobs and fresh healthy food close to home.

Citizens know that urbanites and farmers share the benefits of a food secure future. Those benefits include a growing farm economy, sustainable jobs, and good food that is at its best since it hasn’t had to travel far. Because food security also preserves healthy ecosystems, it means we protect the source of our drinking water. Healthy water translates to healthy farms and food. Our headwaters are the deciding factor in the cleanliness of our water and flood control. Pristine headwaters, a clean environment and a food-secure future are best protected by the values of the provincial Greenbelt. Therefore, the Sierra Club in this report recommends that the headwaters of Carruthers Creek be
added to the Greenbelt as a legacy for generations to come.