I am writing to oppose the…

I am writing to oppose the proposal for an interim combined sewer to support development at 955 Lake Shore Boulevard (Ontario Place). This plan undermines decades of City of Toronto efforts to phase out combined sewers and prevent raw sewage from being discharged into Lake Ontario. It’s also a clear violation of international agreements aimed at safeguarding water quality and ecosystems in the Great Lakes.

The environmental and public health risks here are glaring: degraded water quality at beaches, threats to fish and wildlife, and a blow to the lake’s value as a destination for Canadians and international visitors alike. Let’s not forget that the proposed overflow outlet would empty into the West Channel—a shallow, stagnant stretch of water still used by swimmers, rowers, paddlers, and local wildlife. As Darrell Brown of the CNE pointed out, it’s the “absolute worst place” for such a discharge.

The province has failed to consult the public on this plan, even as it prioritizes private sector developments like the Therme MegaSpa and its landfill extension over the public good. Proposals like this, which jeopardize Lake Ontario’s health and stability, are the opposite of what we should be pursuing in an era of catastrophic biodiversity loss.

For all these reasons, I urge you to deny this permit