Removing Environmental…

Removing Environmental Assessments from Provincial Parks

Hand and hand with the proposed development of Bigwind Lake Provincial Park, (currently a non-operating pristine park), the Ontario government also posted a proposal to remove environmental assessments for all provincial parks' development projects including culling of native wildlife, the development of utility lines, roads, electric hook-ups, basically all activities associated with visiting provincial parks.

Some of these activities relate to maintenance and upkeep, but many are not.  Some are expansion projects, but even the most simple activities such as expanding electrical hook-ups in campgrounds can be determinantal  on the local ecology as many night time species need the cloak of darkness to protect them from predators. Conversely, night time hunters such as owls need darkness, and increased lightening and associated noise can drive them away. The proposal states that expansion projects will occur in 'disturbed' or 'development' areas but expansion projects are an encroachment and reduce buffering. Anything that was included in a park management plan is also exempt from environmental evaluations. Park management plans do not go through any rigorous environmental review prior to approval. 

Doug Ford is in a lot of trouble right now. He faces scrutiny for potential racketeering in the Greenbelt land swap deal with developers, and there is pressure for an OPP investigation. There is also intense ongoing criticism for the dismantling of environmental protection laws under his watch. 

Removing environmental assessments from provincial parks is just one more strike against the Ford government because protected areas are mandated to protect ecosystems for future generations.  Part of that process, is understanding the impacts development will have on those remaining natural areas. 

The the Doug Ford Government is undermining the mandate of provincial parks and conservation parks by removing the need for environmental assessments when deciding development projects in protect areas, regardless of how simple they make seem. Road widening increases traffic and encroaches on undisturbed areas. None of these activities should be taken for granted.  There was nothing wrong with the Class EA which evaluated projects based on a sliding scale. These changes simply weaken the the public process and your accountability to ensure that these last remaining protected areas are truly protected. 

The lack of accountability defines your government practices. If Ontario Parks can't handle caring for these protected areas, then they should all convert them to non-operating parks, leave them alone. And if you think that natural areas are useless unless they are making money, then you have strayed so far away from your mandate that you are probably their worst enemy.