I am concerned that the…

I am concerned that the updated PPS will not protect the Natural Heritage Features as effectively as the existing 2014 PPS. It appears that section 2.1 in the 2014 PPS is essentially the same as in the proposed updated version except that 2.1.10 gives municipalities option of protecting additional wetlands (if I am interpreting that correctly), so on the surface it appears that updated PPS would continue to require the same level of environmental protection with new developments.

However the summary states that updated PPS will: reduce barriers, fast track approvals and "provide flexibility as to how to achieve them". Since I know that protecting Natural Heritage causes barriers for developers, this sounds like the protections in section 2.1 could be compromised to achieve housing, employment etc. I am concerned that one of recommendations allowing rehabilitation plans to demonstrate "no impact" for new aggregate extraction proposals. Does this mean that pits don't need to protect anything as long as they have a rehab plan? That would be short sighted.

Ontario is blessed with many natural heritage features which are becoming increasingly compromised by development pressures even with the strong 2014 PPS. I urge you to at the very least maintain the current level of Natural Heritage protection, and do not allow municipalities to have discretion of whether or not they adhere to section 2.1 with new development proposals.