As a concerned citizen and…

As a concerned citizen and voter in Ontario I must share my serious concern with Bill 66, particularly with the effect it will have upon our and your environmental safety if the current government chooses to pass it.

The (government’s) legislation will allow commercial development to bypass several long-standing laws meant to protect the natural environment and the health of your residents, including the Clean Water Act that was put in place following the Walkerton tragedy. Giving developers and existing corporations free reign to pollute our drinking water sources…..puts ALL our lives in danger. Grassy Narrows, Walkerton and more……. Is there no learning here from our history?

The Great Lakes, housing one fifth of the world’s freshwater will be threatened with harmful pollutants, toxic chemicals, and greater wetlands loss, making them less swimmable, drinkable, and fishable. These and other Lakes and endless Rivers, Creeks, Streams, throughout Ontario will also be at significant risk….they are all linked.

The UN has declared CLEAN WATER as a Human Right. Are Ontarians denied this right? Canada, a nation of nearly unlimited fresh water of which Ontario has a huge amount ----should Ontario not be demonstrating some world leadership in this area? Defaulting to a federal ‘Management System’ indicates your government’s willingness to forfeit its sovereignty in this domain. Will there be others?

The Greenbelt development: 2 million acres of pristine, protected land that grows our food and provides critical habitat for wildlife. Sadly, damage and destruction to this area is a predictable outcome of this abhorrent proposed Bill.

The ‘Open for Business By-law’ approach is an affront to every citizen and taxpayer. Bill 66 expressly provides that no advance notice to the public of an open for business by-law is required before being passed. Where is our democracy in all of this?

I appeal to the government: members and their families who enjoy Ontario’s Nature, to fight for your constituents and families: TO SAVE, TO PROTECT, TO RESPECT our ENVIRONMENT and the very necessities of human life and wild life with which it honours us by withdrawing this damaging Bill.

Respectfully yours,