I object emphatically to the…

I object emphatically to the proposed exemptions from the Environmental Bill of Rights that will remove the right of Ontarians to be advised of, or to comment on, any required permits at Ontario Place, on or off site, to support the project. This is totally unacceptable.

The Environmental Bill of Rights exists to ensure that Ontario's environment in all its forms is protected for future generations. As this applies to Ontario Place, thousands of Ontarians have spoken out about their concerns related to protection of this fragile waterfront ecosystem. They have provided well-informed, intelligent commentary along with realistic and reasonable alternatives to the government's current plans. This move not only deprives citizens of their rights but the government of valuable community knowledge.

The proposal is not in the public interest, compromises the future of this critical waterfront site and serves only to benefit the private interests of foreign companies. (Indeed the company that is going to benefit has been proved by a New York Times expose to be insolvent and to have lied in its proposal to the Ontario Government.) Instead it represents one more compromise in environmental protection, and citizen's rights to be informed, at a time when Ontario along with the rest of the planet is facing a climate and biodiversity crisis.

Once again as a citizen of Ontario, I feel that my concerns for the rule of law and for the environment are being completely ignored. In fact, what is going on in Ontario regarding the environment and the building in particular of the Therme Spa, seems highly reminiscent of the fiasco that is happening south of the border.

When citizens express their concern about the felling of trees, what ensued was a rush to cut down all of the trees as quickly as possible so there would be none.Left to defend.

Furthermore as an educator, I must express my disgust that billions of taxpayer dollars are being spent on a spa for a foreign organization, while education in ontario is allowed to languish at all levels. Not even school lunches are funded anymore by this government. To add insult to injury, laws protecting the environment are being obliterated in order to allow destruction to happen at a more rapid pace.

Shame.