I strongly disagree with the…

I strongly disagree with the weakening of Conservation Authorities and limiting their ability to comment and issue permits. We need Conservative Authorities to continue to protect our wetlands and natural areas as they are the most cost effective methods for climate change mitigation and adaptation, flood protection, biodiversity conservation and recreation.

Wetlands are nature’s water purification system; they are constantly filtering out pollutants, sediments and excess nutrients to supply clean water and maintain ecological balance. Researchers Tariq Aziz and Philippe Van Cappellen at the University of Waterloo found in a recent study that wetlands provide an estimated $4.2 billion worth of sediment and phosphorus filtration each year, helping to keep our drinking water, lakes, and rivers clean. Simply put, if we continue to dismiss the importance of wetlands, we will need to invest billions in alternative methods to clean water.
The researchers assessed the alternative costs of replacing wetlands with three human-made solutions. Here’s the potential annual bill for each option: 1) constructing wetlands to replace the existing services would cost $2.9 billion per year; 2) using agricultural Best Management Practices to remove phosphorus would cost $13 billion per year; and 3) replacing wetlands by expanding wastewater treatment plants would cost an astounding $164 billion a year.

Bill 23 would remove the power of Conservation Authorities to regulate or prohibit the destruction of woodlands, wetlands, river or stream valleys, within their jurisdiction, in almost every case. It does this through Section 7 of the Bill, which would amend s. 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act to exempt any project that has received land use planning approval under the Planning Act from Conservation Authority regulations regulating water-taking, interference with rivers, creeks, streams, watercourses, and wetlands, or controlling flooding, erosion, conservation of land, or impact on species at risk.
I am strongly opposed to Bill 23 and associated policy proposals that would weaken environmental protections and undermine public involvement in land use planning and decision-making. I urge you to 1) withdraw all amendments likely to weaken the protection of farmland and natural heritage; and 2) retain and uphold the role of the public, Conservation Authorities and regional municipalities in environmental planning and decision-making.

This Ontario government, under Premier Doug Ford, is already sending a message to Ontario landowners and developers that filling in wetlands for development is acceptable. The government’s 2018 changes to the Endangered Species Act empowers the Minister of Natural Resources to suspend protections for species-at-risk for any development project. In the Haliburton area, the filling of wetlands on a Gelert Road private property has threatened the habitat of at-risk species and caused the death of an 125 year old Snapping turtle.

Ontario is blessed with an abundance of wetlands that play a critical role in storing and purifying our water. They also provide habitat for wildlife (including about 20 percent of Ontario’s species at risk), offer wild foods and medicines for local communities, and afford opportunities for cultural and recreational pursuits. In addition, they store carbon and control flooding and are thus of utmost importance in mitigating and enhancing community resilience to climate change. A study by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in 2009, conservatively estimated the contribution of wetlands to human well-being at over $51 billion per year in southern Ontario alone.

Stop the creation of a natural heritage offsetting policy and “pay to slay” fund that could lead to widespread and extremely risky tradeoffs, where existing natural areas are sacrificed on the faulty premise that they can be recreated or restored elsewhere. The value of Ontario’s existing natural environment will only increase in the future. Stop this reckless destruction of highly valuable land for short term profits. Nature belongs to future generations.