I am appalled that this…

I am appalled that this government is considering bypassing such crucial acts as the Clean Water Act, the Green Belt Act, the Planning Act and the Great Lakes Protection Act. Need I remind the Premier that the Clean Water Act exists because of the events of Walkerton? People died. And it will happen again if such protections are ignored. The environment is a precious resource and should be protected. Not in the least because we depend on it for our survival. The shortsightedness of this bill is astonishing and would have detrimental and long lasting effects.

On the subject of archaeology, Ontario has a rich history of occupation that dates back more than 12,000 years. The archaeological assessments completed each year in advance of development help fill in the gaps in the story of our Province, Indigenous Peoples and more recent settlers. Archaeology gives a voice to many who have been written out of the history of our Province. Indigenous and descendant community participation in the process of archaeological investigation has recently amplified that voice. Bill 66 threatens to allow municipalities to opt out of provisions within the Planning Act, including the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) which require many of the assessments that are completed.

Under Bill 66, a municipality will be able to circumvent Subsection 3(5) and Section 24 of the Planning Act which give authority to the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) and Official Plan requirements respectively. The protection of heritage is a mandatory provincial interest under the Ontario Heritage Act, not a decision of convenience at a municipal level. Bill 66 needs to be amended to restore the requirements that protect our heritage for the generations to come.

Furthermore, if the purpose of Bill 66 is job creation let me ask you - what about all the jobs that will be lost by bypassing these acts? What of the environmental scientists, the archaeologists, the farmers? The people who work to ensure that protections are in place and being complied with. The people who ensure that we have clean drinking water, food on our table, safe lakes and rivers. Does this government care about their jobs? Sounds to me like this government is only for “certain” people. And what happened to campaign promises? Have you forgotten the Premier promised to keep the Greenbelt “in its entirety”?

I am incredibly disappointed, distressed and disgusted by the egregiousness of Bill 66. Passing it would be an enormous mistake. The consequences of which would be both immediate and far reaching, devastating this generation and the generations to come.