I do not support Bill 66 and…

I do not support Bill 66 and, in particular, Schedules 5 and 10. I am very concerned that Bill 66 will have negative consequences for the environment, drinking water, air and land pollution, farmland, human health, and democracy.

We have worked hard for many years to implement regulations to protect the environment and the health of all species. It is most discouraging to think that these regulations will be weakened, even though this is not necessary for economic development in the province. There are many opportunities for development in safe, sustainable ways.

A dangerous aspect of Bill 66 is that it will allow municipalities to bypass critical environmental regulations as long as at least 50 new jobs are created. This will effectively gut the most important environmental protections in the province including:
the Greenbelt Act
the Clean Water Act
the Great Lakes Protection Act
the Lake Simcoe Act
the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act

The Bill is not necessary to "cut red tape" - the regulations in place now are necessary for saving lives.

Bill 66 would allow municipalities across the province to create “open-for-business by-laws” that would override critical legal requirements to protect water, natural heritage, farmland and human health and well-being. These bylaws would take precedence over municipal official plans and therefore are undemocratic.

The Bill threatens drinking water across Ontario. Open-for-business by-laws would override policies in approved source protection plans intended to protect existing and future sources of municipal drinking water from threats such as landfills, sewage systems and improper handling of fuel, manure and pesticides.

The Bill threatens wetlands, woodlands and habitat for species at risk across Ontario. Open-for-business by-laws would circumvent protections for these important habitats and species set out in the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) under the Planning Act.

The Bill threatens farmland across Ontario. Open-for-business by-laws would bypass
agricultural protections set out, for example, in the PPS. This could lead to more urban sprawl.

The Bill threatens two million acres of natural areas and farmland across the Greenbelt.
Open-for-business by-laws would override protections for natural heritage and farmland set out in the Greenbelt Plan and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan.

The Bill threatens freshwater and the ecological health of the Lake Simcoe watershed. Open-for-business bylaws would override requirements set out in the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan.

The Bill would undermine efforts to make Ontario communities more livable, sustainable and resilient. Open-for-business by-laws would override PPS policies supporting active transportation, affordable housing, green infrastructure and climate resiliency.

The Bill would compromise transparency and public engagement. Contrary to current
legal requirements (Planning Act, Clean Water Act), the by-laws could be passed without
any prior public notice, behind closed doors.

The Bill would leave citizens without recourse. Community members would not be able
to appeal open-for-business by-laws to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

The Bill threatens human and wildlife health through increased exposure to toxic
chemicals. Bill 66 proposes to repeal the Toxics Reduction Act, which requires certain
industrial facilities to consider ways to reduce the use and emission of toxic chemicals in
their operations.

I strongly urge the rejection of this Bill 66. It is extremely regressive for our whole province.