I was invited to attend a…

I was invited to attend a County panel on climate adaptation. the panel recommends increasing green infrastructure and expanding natural heritage corridors to have environmental protection assist in climate mitigation. Bill 5 represents be a major step backwards in this area.

This Bill requires significant and immediate changes.

Some of the my concerns include:

Repealing Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 marks the end of most meaningful provincial protections for endangered, threatened and special concern species in Ontario. Wildlife requires appropriate habitat. A den is not habitat on its own. Wildlife needs room to roam or it will die!

Curtailing Indigenous involvement of proposed developments by ending archeological assessment requirements that would identify Indigenous or other cultural values. These are our original peoples. Without honouring their settlement and history we are regressing from our reconciliation promises. Bad on you!!!

Creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) without environmental or planning criteria creates areas exempt from municipal and provincial law. Lands that could have an SEZ declared by the Minister must not include the Greenbelt, the Niagara Escarpment Plan, special or agricultural lands or any Provincial Parks or protected areas.

This Bill MUST be overhauled. We do not need housing at the expense of our environment and special areas.