Dear Mr. Petersen, Please…

Dear Mr. Petersen,

Please accept this letter in oppostion to Bill 66, the proposed “Open for Business” provincial legislation.

This Bill, allowing municipalities to request a by-law providing exemptions from the Planning Act, would, when invoked, by-pass land-use planning and environmental laws and regulations in the name of being 'Open for Business'.

The legislation goes further, foregoing any consultative process with the public and disallowing residents from appealing such 'Open for Business' decisions.

This would serve to disenfranchise the public, whose consent is the democratic underpinning of all laws under which they are to be governed.

In addition, the strong potential for negative environmental consequences of land development in sensitive areas should this legislation be enacted, will be borne by the Ontarians whose rights to consultation, due process and appeal are to be curtailed.

The provisions of Bill 66 by-passing laws, protections, policies and regulations that have been generations in the making and which benefit all Ontarians, is unacceptable.

I respectfully ask you to consider these points, and the many other points being brought to your attention by individual residents, community associations, municipalities, environmental groups and other concerned entites and to withdraw any and all legislative changes to the Planning Act, as well as the provision for the repeal of the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 as proposed in Bill 66.

Thank you.