I live in an area rich in…

I live in an area rich in protected wetlands and endangered species and species at risk. We are close to Toronto so many city people come here for vacations or to rest and enjoy the outdoors. We also have a lot of limestone in our area and over 40 quarries in our municipality already, so our sensitive environment areas are already threatened. Quarries and rich environment don’t mix well.

With your proposed changes in the PPS I fear we will lose our protected environmental areas. I am referring to the policies in sections 2.1 and 2.2. I am worried that these will be undermined by the proposed changes to section 2.5 (Mineral Aggregate Resources) I am very worried about:

“Outside of the Greenbelt Area, extraction may be considered in the natural heritage features listed in section 2.1.5, 2.1.6 and 2.1.7, provided that the long-term rehabilitation can demonstrate no negative impacts on the natural features or their ecological functions.”

Please remove this subsection. It will allow for aggregate extraction to override protections for our precious environment. This includes things like wild life and fish habitat, significant wetlands and wooded areas. How will rehabilitation protect species at risk??? How do we get them back???

This is not a good balance. These amendments favour the aggregate industry not the environment. We are supposed to be protecting our environment. There are lots of documents about the environment and our health. Ontario is so rich with biodiversity.........please protect it.

Aggregate is not a renewal resource.........please focus on finding a substitute for aggregate in instead of taking more from the ground.

Thank you