Hello, I’m writing to…

Hello,
I’m writing to express my opposition to Bill 5. The proposed changes risk environmental harm and loss of species. Further, it will hide the approvals process from appropriate oversight and comment from the public, scientists, and conservationists. Indeed, the bill as it stands seems designed to obfuscate project approvals, allowing proposals to proceed with little, if any, consideration of their impact to the environment, nearby communities, or their long term costs.

Ill considered projects threaten to harm:
- Species biodiversity, which is already under considerable pressure from loss of habitat, pollution, and chemical contamination. Insect, avian, fish, and amphibian populations in particular are at historic lows, with risks of collapse. This ultimately threatens human survival.
- Farmland. We have some of the best land in North America. With a warming climate, food typically grown further south will, in the coming decades, need to be grown in Ontario. We shouldn’t be paving over it.
- Wetlands & flood management. In addition to being a priceless species habitat, wetlands help manage flood water. Wetlands and forests also slow down storms, reducing wind damage.
- Rural groundwater sources. Remote communities & farms on well water rely on clean ground water. Development of land in those areas should go through careful review to ensure ground water is not affected.
- Public health. In addition to the ways the above mentioned concerns can impact us, studies show having green spaces in your community directly affect public health through lowered stress, lowered blood pressure, and lower crime.

Ultimately such harms are more expensive for the province. A loss of biodiversity impacts crop pollination and fish stocks. Reduced food production costs us jobs, & increases the cost of food. Flood & wind damage to properties disrupt individuals and business operations, and increases insurance premiums. Impacts to public health from pollution shorten average lifespans and add to our healthcare costs.

I urge you to not pass this bill. There are other ways in which we can more expediently approve worthy proposals, while maintaining the oversight needed to ensure our safety and protect our environment.

Thank-you