Comments on Bill 66 - Repeal…

Comments on Bill 66 - Repeal the Toxics Reduction Act

Based on years of experience dealing with the shortcomings of an application to re-open an old toxic landfill in:
• class one wetland
• in Carolinian forest
• on land that was part of the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee,

I am extremely alarmed with Bill 66 – in particular Schedule 5 and Schedule 10.

My volunteer experience in dealing with this old landfill site made me aware of the current shortcomings and the limited resources and power of the Ministry of the Environment to protect sensitive land from actions of a company which had short-term financial gain as its priority. I shudder to think of what damage the “Open for Business by-laws” would do to the protective, thought weak, infrastructure that is in place. Dealing with Toxins is a highly complicated and difficult work. We only need to look at the history of Walkerton to remember how quickly an oversight regarding toxins can have devastating effects.

The speed with which this Bill 66 is being pushed through negates decades of work done by this province to protect source water, natural heritage, farmland and human health and well-being. This Bill 66 will rip apart the financial resources that the people of this province have invested in legislation and the human resources. The knowledge of the people in the Ministries involved cannot be under-rated.

As a registered nurse, I witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the Harris’ government “Common Sense Revolution”, when cuts were drastically made – especially in the community. As a province, we have never recovered from that damage.

This proposed legislation demonstrates a deep disrespect for the people of Ontario and future generations.

I plead with the Government to stop this Bill and its sweeping repercussions.