ERO - 013-4293 - Jan20-19 --…

ERO - 013-4293 - Jan20-19 -- re-- Bill 66 Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act 2018

Bill 66 is a very troubling piece of legislation to me. If enacted, it could create a situation whereby developers and others could run roughshod over currently protected greenbelt and water resources without having to worry about environmental impacts.

I live in the Grey-Bruce area where drinking water is already an issue for many. I think of the issues and tragedy that happened a number of years ago in Walkerton, with some of the people there still victims of the problems that transpired without adequate safeguards in place. I also worry about the many First Nations Peoples in Ontario and elsewhere who are still lacking adequate clean drinking water security and still battling issues of chemicals in fishing grounds from industrial pollution. These situations are unconscionable in this day and age. I would hate to think that the Ontario government would pass legislation that would send us backward in terms of seeking better water protection and environmental safeguards.

Weakening environmental protection policies will likely negatively impact some endangered species and species at risk. I think of the problems faced by the endangered Piping Plover at Sauble Beach. It’s habitat can be wiped out by certain beach raking operations without adequate protection and is currently under attack from those who think only of the Sauble Beach tourism dollars and not take care of our environment. Laws should be strengthened to protect portions of the Piping Plover’s Beach home from reckless destruction.

With climate change and the need for food and water sustainability we need to strengthen our resolve to protect our environment, our land and our air and our species at risk and endangered from would be polluters and wanton development.

Please stop Bill 66 from being passed into law.

Thank you for your consideration.