January 18, 2019 The…

January 18, 2019

The Honourable Todd Smith
Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Queen’s Park – Room 223
Toronto ON M7A 1A2

RE: Bill 66 – Comments from the Township of East Garafraxa

The Township of East Garafraxa (the Township) has reviewed the Provincial Government’s Bill 66 to introduce the "Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act" and has significant concerns with Schedule 10 which are provided as follows:

It is imperative that the approval authority of major developments remains with the municipalities to be processed with regards to the existing legislation for proper, adequate and orderly planning of those developments as prescribed by among possible others, the Planning Act, the Provincial Policy Statement, the applicable Provincial Plans, the Clean Water Act and the Conservation Authority Act. The municipal decision makers are the best at understanding the potential of those proposed developments and their impacts on the community. The existing policy framework has been refined over time and is found adequate in the establishment of new developments of any sizes.

The Township believes that major developments should not be approved without public consultation of the citizens/residents who should have the right to voice their opinion. They are the ones that have to live with those projects. Therefore, the quality of life of the community shall not be compromised by the sole intention of boosting the economic. There should be a right balance.

The Township is committed to making thorough and rigorous decisions regarding natural resources and the preservation of the environmental for consistency with the Clean Water Act, and the Provincial Policy Statement and any other applicable legislative tools in order to achieve good planning, while balancing the need for economic development, protecting resources and providing environmental and public health protection
Bill 66 will weaken environmental protection, undermine democratic processes and potentially endanger public health and;

The Township of East Garafraxa strongly recommends that schedule 10 of Bill 66 be immediately abandoned or withdrawn by the Ontario Government.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan M. Stone, A.M.C.T.
CAO/Clerk-Treasurer
Township of East Garafraxa

cc. Ms. Sylvia Jones, Dufferin-Caledon MPP /Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Mr. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs