Good afternoon, I am writing…

Good afternoon,
I am writing to voice my concerns about Bill 66 and its potential impact on my community. First of all, I believe that repealing the Toxin Reduction Act is a dangerous step that could result in increased exposure to harmful substances. The Bill 66 posting on the ERO website claims that the TRA is redundant under the federal Chemical Management Plan, however, this is not the case. The CMP does not deal with pollution prevention, as it does not mandate the development of plans for reduced use of toxic substances. The CMP only deals with a few of the toxic substances covered by the TRA. The TRA requires companies to plan to use less of the toxic substances that the CMP allows to remain in circulation. Additionally, the TRA is modeled on legislation that has been demonstrated to successfully reduce the use and creation of toxic substances in the United States. As such, the TRA is an important piece of legislation that encourages companies to reduce the quantity of harmful substances released into the environment.

Secondly, I am concerned that the "Open for Business" by-law will threaten our environment and cultural heritage while reducing transparency and opportunities for public consultation on developments. Namely, the "Open for Business" by law would allow development to occur in areas designated for source water protection with complete disregard for the effects of this development on water quality. This reckless action threatens our drinking water supply. It further threatens woodland, wetland, and species at risk habitat in Southern Ontario by circumventing the protection policies laid out for these environments in the Planning Act. Finally, this by-law could be enacted without any form of public consultation. This has the potential to seriously damage communities by ignoring the needs and priorities of those that live there.

Overall, as a young person hoping to live, work, and start a family in Ontario one day, I am discouraged by the total disregard the Government has for the protection of the natural lands and vibrant communities that make this province a great place to live.