The proposal for an interim…

The proposal for an interim combined sewer to support development at 955 Lake Shore Boulevard (Ontario Place) is a fundamentally bad idea. It's also unnecessary. The proposal goes against decades of work by the City of Toronto to separate and replace combined sewers across the city to prevent the discharge of raw sewage into Lake Ontario, which is a shared resource and a sacred public trust. The proposal also flies in the face of international agreements to protect water quality and habitat in the Great Lakes, further threatening the biodiversity of Lake Ontario. Finally, the effluent risks human health in terms of water quality at beaches, fishing and the quality of the lake as an attraction for Canadian and international visitors. The province has not held any consultations about this work with the general public, a sign that the government itself understands the proposal is neither rational, nor in the public interest.

Rather, this proposal benefits a foreign-based private sector initiative that must be further supported by public funds to be realized, with little to no evidence of long-term financial or cultural benefit for the taxpayers of Ontario. I call on you to fulfill your commitment to protect the environment upon which we all depend and deny this ill-conceived and corrupt permit.