Dear Mr. Helfinger, Please…

Dear Mr. Helfinger,

Please consider this email as part of the government consultations on Bill 66. I’m writing to voice my strong opposition to this legislation, which would roll back decades of environmental protections in Ontario.

Letting big business ignore rules outlined in the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Protection Act and the Toxics Reduction Act, as well as open up the Greenbelt for development, poses a threat to our land, water, and air.

The Clean Water Act was put in place after the tragedy in Walkerton, Ontario, where seven people died from e-coli poisoning. People in Walkerton are still feeling the effects of this preventable disaster. Safe water is critical to public health; we cannot risk another tragedy.

The Greenbelt protects Ontario farmland, forests, and nature. It provides habitat for wildlife and productive farmland that supports rural jobs, and a strong agricultural business sector. Ontarians do not want the Greenbelt open for development.

80% of Ontarians get our drinking water from the Great Lakes. Bill 66 threatens the health of the Great Lakes by opening them up to greater development.

The Ontario government under Ford promised to protect the Greenbelt. The recently released “Made in Ontario” Environment Plan also makes commitments that would be impossible if Bill 66 becomes law.

There is sound data that shows how business, growth, and development do not need to come at the expense of our drinking water, our clean air, or our protected nature areas.

Please do the right thing and advise the Ministers responsible to reverse the profound environmental rollbacks proposed in Bill 66.

Thank you.