Ontario has a rich history…

Ontario has a rich history of occupation that dates back more than 12,000 years. The archaeological assessments completed each year in advance of development help fill in the gaps in the story of our Province, Indigenous Peoples and more recent settlers. Archaeology gives a voice to many who have
been written out of the history of our Province. Indigenous and descendant community participation in the process of archaeological investigation has recently amplified that voice. Bill 66 threatens to allow municipalities to opt out of provisions within the Planning Act, including the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) which require many of the assessments that are completed.

Under Bill 66, a municipality will be able to circumvent Subsection 3(5) and Section 24 of the Planning Act which give authority to the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) and Official Plan requirements respectively. The protection of heritage is a mandatory provincial interest under the Ontario
Heritage Act, not a decision of convenience at a municipal level. Bill 66 needs to be amended to restore the requirements that protect our heritage for the generations to come.

The protection of archaeological resources is not only a requirement of the Heritage act and of profound importance to people across the province - it protects jobs and livelihoods. As an archaeologist, my job and the jobs of thousands of archaeologists, cultural heritage specialists, and Indigenous field liaisons depend upon the legislated requirement to preserve and protection cultural resources. Bill 66 threatens good jobs which thousands of people rely upon. Making Ontario competitive should not mean making Ontario lose jobs and business.