I have just learned of the…

I have just learned of the Ontario government's interim plan to dump storm water and sewerage into Lake Ontario but INSIDE the breakwater in front of 955 Lake Shore Blvd (Ontario Place). This short-term thinking is dangerous to the health of anyone using the nearby beaches as they have for many summers in the past. My strong opposition to this plan also comes from the fact that it goes against decades of work by the City of Toronto to separate and replace combined sewers across the city to prevent the discharge of raw sewage into Lake Ontario. It also ignores international agreements to protect water quality and habitat in the Great Lakes.

Apparently, this reckless plan comes from a contract clause between the developer and Ontario related to Ontario providing services by a certain date which expired at the end of 2024. There is a daily hefty penalty now being added to the enormous cost of taxpayer dollars already committed. Shortening the pipe, rather than extending it out, well into the lake, was done to save a little time and money at the expense of the public health and the environment. This proposal to benefit private sector initiatives, is not in the public interest and threatens the stability of the lake ecosystem in a time of severe biodiversity loss. Please deny this permit.