This comment is with regard…

This comment is with regard to the proposal for an interim combined sewer to support development at 955 Lake Shore Boulevard (Ontario Place) to benefit the construction of the Therme MegaSpa. I am opposed to the proposal which goes against decades of work by the City of Toronto to separate and replace combined sewers across the city to prevent the discharge of raw sewage into Lake Ontario. I am well aware that this 2-year redirect to the West Channel (an area used by swimmers, rowers, and paddlers, and most importantly a home to wildlife) of a sewer system is being done so as to not interfere with the 10-acre landfill extension of the Therme MegaSpa development.

It's amazing how un-bureaucratic and efficient the government can be when one of their own has a vested personal or financial interest. The Ford government is in a rush to push through this development project, and thus have accelerated the timeline by a year to May 2025.

Even if one was only concerned with human health and directed them to avoid the area, there is no escaping contaminated water, as it will find its way far afield of the actual dumping area. But the biggest losers in all of this are wild animals, especially aquatic life, who will be forced to live in human excrement, affecting their quality of life and no doubt making them sick or killing them. In what universe is this in any way conscionable to subject them to this injury and indignity? This flies in the face of international environmental agreements to protect water quality and habitat in the Great Lakes, not to mention the original concept of this area being a community and place for people to visit and feel a greater connection with the natural world.

Why did the province not held any consultations about this work with the general public? There has been no transparency whatsoever. If not for independent parties doing their own research and uncovering how this project breaks with environmental and health standards for waterfronts and serves only to enrich private interests, we would know nothing of its negative impacts. And now with the quickened pace to push this through, you can smell the rot of corruption from a mile away.

This proposal that blatantly benefits private sector initiatives is not in the public interest and threatens the stability of the lake ecosystem in a time of severe biodiversity loss. The entire project is being thrust upon a city that neither asked for it nor wants it, yet taxpayers in the province of Ontario will be forced to support it.

The only connection that Ontarians will have to this spa is that we have to pay for it.

Again: Please deny this permit.