I am concerned that…

I am concerned that modernization of the environmental assessment program may be an attempt of overly simplifying a process that requires complex analysis and varied depth of stakeholder engagement.

Ontario has a world-class environmental assessment program that is an example of excellence for many countries. By cutting stages, altering the scope of assessments, reviewing time and generalizing projects further, the threat of harm to human safety and health, along with environmental degradation - does increase. I believe Walkerton is a tragic case in point.

Terminology for projects that are posed as 'low-risk' with 'no significant impacts' (p.12), are 'resolved by other processes,' is vague. The MOE already provides brief overview of minor projects that fall under these categories and the 'modernization' is merely a further lowering of required oversight.

Applying a one-window approach for projects that are highly diverse, requiring contextual and situational understandings - obfuscates an effective review process that protects citizens of Ontario. I realize there is often a long time frame for some major projects with Part II Order requests and Individual Environmental Assessments, but if the proponents make errors in the scientific data, or fail to provide a logical decision-making process, or ignore issues raised by the public, well, they are going to need to do more work to ensure the EAA is upheld. This is our safeguard.