This proposal caught my…

This proposal caught my attention after it was shared with me by an advocacy group.

After reviewing the proposal, my main concern is with the abilty to over-ride Conservation Authority permits to allow development - even for housing and community infrastructure. While these are obviously important areas for development that are needed, decisions about them should not be made from a political lens, but through an environmental one. As we look towards the future, the sustainability of our developments - especially in support of housing - are becoming more and more crucial, and we need to consider a perspective that oulasts our lifetimes. Scientific and environmental, rather than polictical, lenses are particularly well-suited to do this in an informed way.

The current assessment of potentially restoring and 'daylighting' Toronto's rivers and waterways is a great example of this. If the Minister chose to over-ride a CA decision and allow development, what might we be trying to 'take back' and restore in the future?

I support the power for the Minister to over-ride the CA for the purpose of denying a permit, as the Minister may be able to take in potential risks the CA cannot, but the Minister should not be able to over-ride the CA to allow permits.