I strongly oppose this bill…

I strongly oppose this bill. It does not consider or respect Indigenous rights. It grants the government unlimited rights to provide any proponent or business the ability to conduct any activity it wants in any area the government chooses without oversight. This bill exempts development from critical environmental and archaeological assessments.

It also allows the government to avoid public accountability and shield itself from civil liability, and protects anyone involved in these projects from lawsuits. A democratic government represents and works for its citizens and those citizens should be able to hold it accountable, including by legal means.

I am also extremely concerned by the replacement of the Endangered Species Act. Politicians and bureaucrats should not replace scientists in deciding which plants and animals should be protected. This bill also abolishes obligations for the government to create recovery strategies and report on them. There is more than enough unprotected land to support housing, transit and infrastructure projects. Our environment should not be sacrificed for vague "economic progress".

This bill is erodes public participation in government activities by exempting all proposals related to Ontario Place from being posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario for public review. Not only is a hugely unpopular and expensive private enterprise being built on public parkland, but now citizens can't voice their concerns through the government's own registry.

This bill disregards or deliberately cuts out so many government's responsibilities and protections that I value in our province. I urge you to withdraw this proposal for the greater good of Ontario, both its people and its environment.