Removing requirement of an…

Removing requirement of an Environmental Assessment on this project is short sighted. Environmental effects of large infrastructure projects, such as this one, need to be considered prior to initiating the project. Environmental assessments are designed to identify and allow opportunity to address concerns before shovels hit the ground, mitigating environmental and social risks. It is unfathomable to understand why the public would support immediate development of this site, at the expense of well thought out risk mitigation. The local public is not in support of this project that threatens to treat their home as a dumping ground for urban waste. The least that can be done is to address all public concerns and ensure that environmental risks that could be forseen can be mitigated before they become a larger problem. The proposal to remove an Environmental Assessment has the potential to be extremely destructive for the sake of instant gratification. Ontarians deserve to know that air, water, soil and biodiversity have been considered before undertaking a large and permanent development. In particular, Species at Risk and their habitat should be considered. These species are threatened or on decline and require consideration to ensure overt threats to their populations are not carried out and we do not intentionally cause further decline. Chatham-Kent is one of the most biodiverse regions in the province, with many species unique in the Carolinian zone. It is likely that there are local environmental issues that need to be considered. It is a disservice to the environment and the public to blatantly forgo consideration of the delicate ecosystems of this area. Recovering any displaced species and the ecosystem services the environment provides is extremely expensive and time consuming, and often not very successful. Ecosystems take decades to develop and minutes to destroy. It is more efficient in the long run to take a precautionary approach to assessment and conservation, and review and address risks ahead of starting a project, than it is to fix after the fact. Restoration and recovery of natural ecosystems should come into play for risks that cannot be mitigated, not as a backstop for all actions. Ultimately, this proposal will cost Ontarians more in the long run.