I am writing in as an…

I am writing in as an individual who has been involved in archaeological work in the Province of Ontario for over 35 years. I have had the opportunity to work with the Province, municipalities, public historic sites and private consulting firms. I also have worked with academic institutions, spoke at archaeological conferences as well as at my children's schools and have seen the amazement that comes from others learning about Ontario's past. And I have heard countless times how unbelievable it is that there is an archaeological past in Ontario that extends back 13,000 years or more.

In my work roles, I have participated in, and witnessed archaeological site management and the conservation of artifacts, which, in most cases, are Indigenous Ancestors' belongings, handled with respect, but sadly also, with frustration in the cases of private development. However, in the case of private developers' frustrations, they are required to address other environmental and regulatory responsibilities, which seems to me as an Ontario tax payer and property owner, reasonable requirements in order for them to have the privilege of forever altering the land for their profit. It is what I think many refer to as "the cost of doing business". In all other industries, I am pretty sure there is a cost to do business there too.

As for infrastructure projects such transit or other provincial priorities, and for other priorities such as construction of long-term care facilities, I feel that archaeological assessments, which often to do not encounter archaeological sites that require excavation, are not great in time or cost. So to allow the archaeological past, to be determined to be not worthy of investigation, through these amendments to the OHA which are to allow for the "exemption of property" from archaeological assessments, in the pursuit of "advancing specified provincial priorities", is not warranted. While they are not often easily determined, there are a multitude of reasons why development and infrastructure construction may take time and the fragile and non-renewable past should not, nor need not, be destroyed in order to "advance provincial priorities". Better supported provincial, municipal and Indigenous community archaeological conservation would allow assessments and artifact conservation to continue, and improve, and provincial priorities would be met. I do not support the proposed changes to the OHA that would allow for "exemption of property".