Please bring your attention…

Please bring your attention to 34.1(6) (6) of this bill which excludes "open for business by laws" from the "red tape" found in section 39 of the Clean Water Act (2002). This bit of red tape was put in place at the recommendation of a judge after a lengthy hearing and inquiry regarding the drinking water tragedy in Walkerton, ON.

The red tape of section 39 of the Clean Water Act requires that land use decisions conform to source protection plans when there is a significant threat. If there is not a significant threat land use decisions need only "have regard". This bears repeating: the Clean Water Act only limits land use decisions that create and significant threat to DRINKING WATER sources. This is the sort of red tape that protects not just "the taxpayers" but also "the people" of Ontario. Please reconsider the implications of this; don't excuse yourself by reasoning that you've just allowed municipalities to make independent decisions. As "creatures of the Province" municipal decisions cannot be autonomous.

I have attached the findings and recommendations of the Walkerton inquiry for those who may find value in reviewing these materials.