I am deeply concerned with…

I am deeply concerned with this omnibus bill that seeks to concentrate power with the provincial government, reduce public participation and oversight, and destroy environmental protections which will have stark consequences for both humans and the environment. None of the proposed changes are based on evidence and all work towards supporting developers’ interests at all costs, while actively harming residents and their futures.

The changes proposed under the rebuilding Ontario place act, especially “amends to provide that part 2 of the environmental bill of rights does not apply to a proposal to issue, amend or revoke an instrument related to the Ontario place redevelopment project or any enterprise or activity that furthers the project “ is not democratic and reduces public oversight. Do not amend part 2 of the environmental bill of rights to exclude a proposal to issue, amend or revoke an instrument related to the Ontario place redevelopment project or any enterprise or activity that furthers the project. Ontario place redevelopment is not above ERO postings. The government is not above accountability.

The ‘special economic zones’ proposed in the special economic zone act is ripe for corruption. There is no definition of who a trusted partner is or a special economic zone - which means the government can deem anyone and anything as such. I am concerned this will be used to further developers’ interests at the cost of Ontario residents. The claim of speeding up construction is not good enough excuse for this significant power grab. We know that we don’t just need more homes built- the evidence clearly shows we need purpose-built deeply affordable housing, which needs to be built by non-market developers as private development will not finance this on a great enough scale as it is not in their financial interest. Further, the concentration of power in the lieutenant governor to override provincial policy and local municipalities’ by-laws is unjust and lacking in any meaningful oversight. I ask that this portion of the proposed bill is removed.

The proposed species conservation act should not be carried forward at all. This proposed act works directly against evidence and will lead to increased human-wildlife interactions and the extinction of species, which will again have downstream consequences not considered by this bill. To label a habitat as an area just where an animal rests is illogical - all species require more than a bed and the government knows this. The endangered species act is something Ontario can be proud of, and to replace it with a watered down version that goes against evidence is troubling.

I do not want to see this bill go forward. I ask that the government withdraw entirely or amend the bill in consultation with the public, actually integrating feedback from consultation.