I am opposed to this…

I am opposed to this proposal.

According to CELA, at present, proposals to construct large-scale provincial freeways or high-voltage transmission lines are currently subject to individual EA requirements under Part II of the Act. From 2020 to 2022, when the province solicited public input on its draft projects list regulation under the amended Act, the Ontario government indicated that these types of projects (e.g., multi-lane highways >75 km and transmission lines >345 kV and >75km) would continue to trigger individual EAs (re-named "Comprehensive EAs").

However, the Ontario government is now proposing to further narrow the scope of the draft projects list regulation. For example, according to the Registry posting (ERO 019-4219), "the revisions to the proposal involve moving all transportation (highways and rail) and electricity transmission projects that had been proposed for a comprehensive EA to a streamlined EA process."

I agree with CELA that this is an inappropriate, unjustified, and unacceptable rollback of current EA requirements for these environmentally significant projects for several reasons:

The Streamlined EA process is not as robust, accountable, or participatory as the Comprehensive EA process;

The Streamlined EA process does not result in a project-specific approval with binding and enforceable conditions imposed by the Minister and/or Cabinet;

Pursuant to the Bill 197 changes, it is no longer possible for Ontarians to file a "bump-up" (or "elevation") request on environmental grounds to ask the Minister to move a particularly significant project from the Streamlined EA process to the Comprehensive EA process; and

Ontarians cannot request the Minister to refer a Streamlined Class EA project to the independent Ontario Land Tribunal for a public hearing and decision.

Again, I am opposed to the this proposal. In order to protect our future we need stronger a stronger EA process not a watered down version that does not protect the people of Ontario and our environment.

Thank you for your consideration.