I take issue with many of…

I take issue with many of the proposed changes to the omnibus bill, Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 as they relate to the protection of natural heritage resources for current and future generations. These efforts will turn back efforts made over many decades to ensure we preserve the lands needed to support healthy and sustainable communities. Everyone DOES deserve a place to live but not at the cost of the environment which sustains us. Not all lands are suitable for development and taking away the powers of communities to set aside and maintain natural heritage systems and determine sustainable housing solutions will cause serious impacts down the road.
I believe the proposed changes to OWES limit oversight and regulation designed to protect our natural heritage, intended to mitigate the negative effects to wildlife populations and water resources - including flooding. We live in a time where impacts of climate change have never been more apparent (Toronto, Calgary, and the lower mainland in BC have all experienced significant damages related to flooding and extreme weather events). These were historic events never seen before which many experts attributed to the effects of climate change. Where in this legislation are the proposed changes to the consequences of such damage in the future?
Wetlands are unique in their capacity to store carbon compared to other land cover types. Like other natural features, wetlands store carbon in vegetation, in soils below ground, and in decaying biomass. However, the anoxic conditions present within wetlands slow the decomposition of organic material, thus resulting in longer term carbon storage compared to other cover types. Wetlands provide habitat for a wide diversity of species including aquatic invertebrates, fish, migratory and resident birds, fish, frogs, and turtles.
As part of Bill 23 and proposed the updates to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System, the interconnectedness of watersheds, wetlands, and natural areas would be ignored. This means that wetlands would no longer be assessed as “complexes” and therefore no longer protected in their entirety. Developers would avoid the requirement to compensate for impacts because the wetlands would be downgraded due to changing definitions and reduced protections.
The creation of integrated natural heritage systems (to includes wetlands, woodlands, and meadow habitats) is a priority in developed countries around the world as we now recognize globally the threat that the alternative represents for our planet. Ontario and Canada are rich in natural resources but when we build cities and pave over broad geographic areas we will indeed pay the consequences of that.
Ontarians very much value the natural environment (just look how difficult it is to reserve a spot at a provincial campground). Our government should be a leader in the protection of our natural areas, especially in southern Ontario where they are in very short supply. We expect our elected representatives to be forward thinking to ensure we are building sustainable communities that can withstand the test of time, including a changing climate.
Significant changes are being lumped together under one bill which limits the ability for public consultation and ultimately harms our democracy. We have a vested interest to protect our natural heritage as much as reasonably possible not only for our immediate concern, but also for future generations.
I hope this government will reflect upon these comments, and those being put forth by others, and make changes to this legislation so that environmental considerations are not weakened under the guise of affordable housing. Making housing affordable should be a priority, absolutely, but not at the expense of our natural environment.