I am writing to share my…

I am writing to share my strong disagreement with the proposals in Bill 66. I am deeply concerned about the impact this Bill and the proposed 'Open for Business' bylaws will have on the environment, on planning, housing affordability, and the long term sustainability of our communities. It is false to suggest that Ontario needs such a Bill to create a more competitive business environment, when it is clearly working people who will suffer the most from any such proposals. We need communities where people can afford to live, where there are options for housing, work, and public transit, not more sprawl that creates environmental and social harms.

All the proposals within Bill 66 are deeply troubling, as is the lack of openness and accountability that is being built into the framework for cities and developers. I do not want my city building housing and business because of the whims of wealthy developers or continuing the cycle of speculation that has resulted in unaffordable housing prices and a model of housing development that is unsustainable and undesirable. I want my city to be able to build social and affordable housing, including the expansion of tools for cooperative housing models.

As a resident of Hamilton, I am also deeply concerned about what the elimination of the Toxics Reduction Act will mean for air, soil, and water quality in the city. I live close to an industrial area, and I want to know that those companies can and are being held accountable for what they are putting into the environment. Bill 66 eliminates this possibility, and that is truly terrifying.

Finally, I am deeply concerned about the impacts of Bill 66 on working people and on workplace rights. The changes to rules around overtime pay and hours worked mean that people will pressured into longer hours with less income as a result. People working in the lowest paid jobs will be the most affected, and many of these jobs are very dangerous especially when workers are overworked. Many workers do not know about their rights on the job and as a result are easily taken advantage of. Removing the obligation of employers to post information about the ESA will only increase the cases of workers being exploited and not knowing what to do. This is a minimal burden on employers - eliminating it is disgusting because it only serves to hurt workers and benefit employers by increasing ignorance.

I am not surprised to see this kind of legislation from this government, but as a resident of Ontario, I want something different. I strongly urge the government to withdraw all aspects of Bill 66 immediately.