ERO number 019-9266 I…

ERO number 019-9266

I strongly oppose the proposed changes in Bill 212 Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, especially “Schedule 3, Highway 413 Act” and “Schedule 4, Part XII By-Laws and Bicycle Lanes.” With respect to Schedule 3, I am deeply concerned by article (2) “Exemptions from the Environmental Assessment Act.” Exempting Highway 413 from environmental assessment risks destroying ecologically and hydrologically sensitive features in the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine, putting at risk invaluable and irreplaceable natural environments and endangered species – including the redheaded woodpecker, Jefferson salamander, western chorus frog, redside dace, and more. Moreover, by allowing “early work” to occur before Indigenous consultation is complete, this act undermines meaningful consent for Indigenous communities and reconciliation. The Environmental Assessment Act exists for the “betterment of the people of the whole or any part of Ontario by providing for the protection, conservation and wise management in Ontario of the environment” (R.S.O. 1990, c. E.18, s. 2.); any infrastructure development that requires exemption from such an act is clearly not in the best interests of the people and province of Ontario.

With respect to Schedule 4, Part XII, the placement of bicycle lanes should be a municipal matter. Municipalities have an in-depth knowledge of their communities, local traffic, and public transit options, and are best situated to determine the location of bicycle lanes. Moreover, Ontario has significantly more important issues that deserve and require attention from the provincial government. Rather than micromanaging proposed lanes, traffic flow, and existing bike lanes (articles 1-2, 4-5), it would be a better use of time and resources for the province to focus on these serious problems - such as the shortage of doctors and nurses, emergency room wait times, unaffordable housing, insufficient shelters for homelessness, drug crises, etc. - that require serious solutions.