Having lived on the shores…

Having lived on the shores of two of our Great Lakes, and in areas where aggregate extraction occurs, I want to express concerns about aspects of Bill 132 -- especially Schedule 9. We currently live in Bruce County on the shore of beautiful (albeit with very high water levels) Lake Huron.

This bill covers and recommends changes to many existing acts. For example, it proposes to reduce the fines imposed upon polluters under Ontario's Safe Drinking Water Act, Water Resources Act, Environmental Assessment Act and a couple others. It also proposes to amend the Aggregate Resources Act to deregulate the industry in very concerning ways that will make it impossible for local governments to exercise any meaningful control.

Under the Water Resources Act, as I understand it, the maximum fine used to be $100,000 per day. In Bill 132, the proposal is for it to be a maximum of $200,000 per contravention. These are drastically lower penalties for industrial corporations that are caught dumping toxic sludge into lakes or spilling chemical waste into rivers -- meaning it will take away the incentive for industry to avoid massive spills and to clean them up promptly if/when they do occur. Fines need to be tough enough to force industries to take every possible precaution to prevent leaks, spills and toxic pollution into our lakes and rivers.

As I read the proposed changes in Schedule 9 in particular, they fall very short!

I strongly urge the removal, or at least a major revision, of Schedule 9 in Bill 132. Like many other Ontarians, our entire family takes our environment seriously. If the Schedule 9 proposal goes forward as it currently stands, this government will lose more credibility as protectors of our province -- and will lose even more of our support as citizens.