I am opposed to Bill 68 and…

I am opposed to Bill 68 and It's proposed changes. The proposals within this bill will threaten the environment, and threaten the health of Ontarians.

1. Creating a new provincial agency to oversee watershed protection and conservation, will override local conservation expertise and increase environmental risks to local communities.

This new agency called the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), Implies "conservation", yet places climate resilience last after other stated provincial priorities of housing, the economy, and infrastructure. This agency's mandate will allow the fast-tracking of development in floodplains, wetlands and sensitive watersheds, resulting in construction in these areas that will endanger communities.

Furthermore, there is no business case, cost analysis or evidence showing that the changes will speed up permits, reduce duplication or save money.

2. This bill delivers another blow to the environment and the health of Ontarians. Within Bill 68, the Government will no longer be required to establish targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario. This will directly impact the health and mortality of the citizens of Ontario.

The bill also instructs the Minister to prepare a climate change plan and reports in respect of the climate change plan. What does this mean? There is already the Ontario Provincial Climate Change Impact Assessment, January 2023. Has the government not read this?? Here is the Executive Summary, which immediately comments on the impact of greenhouse gases:

"Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Rising atmospheric concentrations
of greenhouse gases are altering the earth’s climate, driving increases in global average
temperatures and variability and extremes of weather. These changes are causing
unprecedented impacts, transforming ecosystem structure and function, damaging
infrastructure, disrupting business operations, and imposing harm to human health and wellbeing. Physical climate impacts and risks to human, natural and built systems in Ontario are
driven by average annual warming temperature and extreme heat, drought, changes to
intensity and frequency of precipitation and other climate variables. Avoiding or reducing the
worst impacts of human-induced climate change requires action on parallel fronts: rapid and
deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and proactive and planned measures to adapt to
current and imminent future changes. While there are adaptation efforts underway to address
these impacts, the rapid pace of climate change requires large scale, accelerated action in all
facets of our society and economy."

I reiterate that I am opposed to Bill 68.