I believe expanding that…

I believe expanding that expanding the permit-by-rule regime to include waste management systems (involving asbestos waste, biomedical waste, treated biomedical waste, hazardous waste, liquid industrial waste and treated waste that can not be disposed of by land); stormwater management; and water-taking for construction sites dewatering activities and foundation drains will grievously lower the overall quality of water in the province, by allowing more businesses to pollute at will.

This proposal will result in the reduction of detailed, up-front reviews of applications related to the specified activities, thereby weakening regulatory oversight. These regulations were introduced in the first place to protect our drinking water from pollution by unregulated industry. These industries have a very poor record of complying with the regulations that are in place. What then will we see if they face no regulation at all?

The permit-by-rule process also removes public participation and third-party appeal rights under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993. Citizens will no longer be able to protect their drinking water quality and/or quantity in the face of unregulated industry.

As a result, the specified activities, which have the potential to cause significant adverse impacts to the natural environment and human health will no longer be subject to either government or public scrutiny prior to commencing operation in Ontario. This is a step backward in the protection of public health and well-being for Ontarians.