I am writing to object to…

I am writing to object to this proposal for a new Environmental Compliance Approval (sewage) (ECA) for the modification of the existing sewer overflows at 955 Lake Shore Boulevard West (Ontario Place) to allow storm and sanitary waste to flow into what is called the Western Channel between the mainland and the Ontario Place Islands.

Based on the following, the ECA should be denied:

1. In its current location, the CSO outlet protects the West Channel from contamination as a result of extreme wet weather events. The proposal to redirect raw sewage and other contaminants into the West Channel directly will seriously affect the safety of regular users of this water course by creating hazardous water conditions into an important and unique waterfront resource for rowers, kayakers and other users of small waterborne craft.

2. The proposal will likely force the cancellation of popular CNE related water attractions that take place in the West Channel as unreliable water safety would make advance scheduling of these events impossible.

3. As absolutely zero information has been provided to the public on the ERO site, it is not clear that there has been any reliable or comprehensive assessment of potential environmental impacts on the Ontario Place shoreline to the east or the beaches to the west of raw entering the West Channel - an area of constrained circulation. Approval should not be considered in the absence of full disclosure of the details and impacts of the project.

4. It is offensive to residents and taxpayers, that significant public dollars would be spent on this proposal, a short-term solution solely to facilitate the construction of a private enterprise (the Therme spa), and not more productively put towards accelerating the City of Toronto phased project for eliminating combined sewer outflow altogether. To add injury to offence, the proposal will potentially harm or drive away users of the West Channel.

5. Respecting point 4, it seems that the Province is contemplating, as a permanent solution, extending the CSO outlet to beyond the planned Therme beach - again, using taxpayer dollars to benefit this unpopular private enterprise. That the Province would even consider such solution is shocking. While the City of Toronto is expending billions of dollars to do it's part to improve the quality of Great Lakes water through the construction of infrastructure to contain and treat overflow, Ontario is prepared to completely ignore our commitments under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Under Article 2 of that Agreement, Canada and the US have committed to principles that include active treatment of wastewater without resorting to the unacceptable practice of dilution. It should be the role and responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment to safeguard our resources and ensure that we are compliant with our International Joint Commission commitments.

6. Finally, in terms of Indigenous Reconciliation, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement should be seen as a modern extension of the Dish with One Spoon treaty - an agreement by all who touch the Great Lakes to work together to care for it for this and future generations. It is entirely unacceptable and inconsistent with our joint responsibility for Ontario to use our money in a way that does short term harm, does no permanent good and simply benefits a private development.