Last Thursday I attended and…

Last Thursday I attended and made a deputation at the City of Vaughan's council meeting on ENVIRONMENTAL REGISTRY NO. 013-4125 (Proposed Open-for-Business Planning Tool) and ENVIRONMENTAL REGISTRY NO. 013-4239 (New Regulation under the Planning Act for Open-for-Business Planning Tool). I was one of many concerned Vaughan residents. The deputations took nearly 2 1/2 hours. It felt good to be part of democracy that evening as each speaker admonished Council to revoke the proposed "open for business" provisions that would see the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine possibly impacted by development. Not a single person thought allowing business development in these natural heritage and environmentally sensitive areas is a good idea.

As you know, Schedule 10 of Bill 66 would override the Greenbelt Act, the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Protection Act, the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act all of which provide critical protection for our natural world and healthy communities. The protection of vital water sources is not optional, it is critical for the health and safety of all citizens. Health and safety protection is not red tape. Making decisions today that reflect the needs of future citizens is not an afterthought. It's the only fair thing to do.

Schedule 10 proposes that open-for-business planning by-laws will not be subject to any notice, comment or hearing requirements under the Planning Act. Public participation is critical to ensure that the public can present perspectives and information that will balance those of the developer. Public participant requirements are not red tape but are essential to good land use planning and reflects a government committed to its citizens.

Lets not go backwards.

Thank you,