I am concerned by broad…

I am concerned by broad sweeping Bill 132 and its impact on many environmental laws and regulations designed to protect the environment, safeguard public health, manage wildlife and public lands, and regulate resource extraction throughout the province. The aim of Bill 132 is to "remove red tape for businesses" to operate in Ontario however, several Schedules are aimed more at revising, weakening, or eliminating key environmental safeguards rather than improving competitiveness or removing unnecessary “red tape.”

Schedule 9 proposes to empower provincial officials to impose administrative monetary penalties in relation to contraventions under various environmental statutes. I believe these penalties have been inappropriately capped, and will therefore be ineffective in deterring polluting activities. I'm not sure how loosening wording around motor vehicle emissions will remove red tape for businesses, rather it will harm public health.

Schedule 9 amendments to the Pesticides Act will loosen current provincial restrictions on the sale and use of neonicotinoid pesticides, which are highly toxic to pollinators such as bees.

Schedule 16 makes concerning changes to the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, such as granting companies approval to revise work schedules without Ministerial approval and remove resources for non-forestry purposes. It also makes changes to the Aggregate Resources Act, such as:

- providing that municipal by-laws are “inoperative” if they restrict the depth of aggregate extraction in pits or quarries in order to protect groundwater; and
- excluding municipal zoning by-laws from applying to pits and quarries on Crown land.
- allowing aggregate operators to “self-file” changes to existing site plans for unspecified “routine activities”;
- allowing unspecified “low-risk activities” to occur without a licence under certain conditions; and;
- “streamlining” requirements for compliance reporting by aggregate operators

I believe all of these changes will loosen regulations designed to safeguard the health of Ontario residents and the environment.

Lastly, I am disturbed by the short timeframe for public consultation on the bill. Given the complexity, significance and controversial nature of the environmental changes contained in the Bill, I view this time-limited consultation as unduly rushed and wholly inadequate. I view the title of the Bill as dishonest.