This is yet another bad idea…

This is yet another bad idea from a government that already has a long and unswerving history of bad ideas. But unlike most of the previous missteps which were fixed by a hasty reversal of policy, a dubious cabinet shuffle or sweaty red-faced apology, this bad idea could cost both lives and taxpayer mega-money.

Back in October of 1954 a tropical storm called Hurricane Hazel ravaged Ontario causing at least 81 deaths (likely more), left thousands of people homeless and cost the Ontario taxpayer what would be the equivalent of billions of dollars in today's money.

Fortunately, back in 1954 the ruling powers learned from their mistakes. Up until then, people were allowed to build on natural flood plains without interference from pesky government regulation. And then disaster struck. The network of Conservation Authorities that were created across the province in the wake of Hurricane Hazel has prevented any repeats of Hazel's destruction. Ontario also boasts a chain of parks and nature preserves that are the envy of the world. This proposal by the Ford government threatens to undermine both.

The Ford government intends to dismantle the 36 conservation authorities of this province and replace them with single one-size-fits all central authority. The purpose for this change is not to improve conservation or better protect the public. The stated reason is to make it easier and cheaper for developers to build housing on land that is currently protected by conservation authority control.

Not surprisingly, there is not a single mention of Climate Change in this proposal. Scientists are predicting that destructive storms like Hazel will not only become more powerful, they will be increasing in frequency. In other words, we should not be opening up existing conservation land to housing. We should be doing the opposite. We should be trying to figure out what developed land in Ontario will be vulnerable when (not if) another even more powerful storm than Hurricane Hazel hits this province.

Yes, there is a housing crisis in this province (that this government certainly helped to create) but deliberately building homes in the direct path of natural weather disasters is not one of them.
The proposal states “Through this posting, we welcome comments on anticipated benefits…”

I see none.