To: Premier Doug Ford,…

To: Premier Doug Ford, Premier
Mr. David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Mr. Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
Mr. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
I am writing in regard to the proposed changes to the Ontario Heritage Act, ERO 019-6813, Places to Grow Act, 2005. I find the rush to strip protection from heritage buildings, conservation areas and cultural sites problematic.
Mr. Ford, your government has reiterated that you will hit the 2030 target for 2030 to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 30% from 2005 levels. I am asking you to keep that promise. One of the ways that you would be able to accomplish this goal would be the refitting and reusing heritage buildings. One of the biggest contributors to GHG is the concrete and steel industry. The demolition of buildings are also contributors. There is no way to offset the GHG that is created in this demolition, no matter how energy efficient you design the new construct. Add into this the emissions that are created hauling waste away, bringing new material to the building site and construction of the building and GHG levels start to climb even higher. It is hard to imagine how you will keep that promise with this destruction of heritage buildings.
Heritage is an important facet to the education and grounding of society. To deny the background of those components that make up our citizens is to deny the pieces that contributed to the building of Ontario and Canada. Our Indigenous neighbours, settlers, immigrants and 2SLGBTQIA people have given their hard work to enhance the cities, towns, villages and hamlets they live in. These include buildings, cultural sites and natural areas.
When we take away the importance of our heritage, we lose pieces of ourselves. We will be less if we deny the importance of these places and take away the protections for them.
There is more to our province than the next big tower or mega house. While housing is a critical part of our societal obligations, our heritage doesn’t need to be bulldozed in order to achieve this. Repurposing and adapting existing buildings will not only protect our history but our environment. Instead of depleting existing resources and creating a waste disposal emergency, we could develop an industry that repurposes building and become worldwide leaders in protecting our environment.
Please reconsider the proposal and include the necessary protections for our heritage and history. Help us become world leaders in heritage and environmental protection. Help us embrace the past that leads to our future by weaving the heritage sites into that destiny. Please reconsider.