Dear Mr. Helfinger, I want…

Dear Mr. Helfinger,

I want to express my concern with various parts of the proposed Bill 66. To begin, I want to express that I find in concerning that so many important proposed changes are included in this big Bill, making it more difficult for the Ontario public to be well informed about what changes are being proposed.

While the current government has stated that the purpose of this Bill is to reduce “red tape” and eliminate “unnecessary costs for businesses”, I am concerned at what cost the government wants to help business put profits over the wellbeing of Ontario citizens.

I do not consider regulations that prevent pollution, reduce the use and creation of toxic substances, require monitoring and annual reporting of toxic substances, and informing Ontarians about toxic substances to be “unnecessary red tape”. We know that business will try to eliminate costs and will pollute as much as they are allowed to. Strong regulations that protect our environment, keeping our air and water free from contamination and toxic substances are essential, not “unnecessary red tape”.

In addition, I am concerned about other rollbacks of environment protections in this Bill. Letting businesses ignore rules outlined in the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Protection Act, as well as opening up the Greenbelt for development, poses a threat to our land, water, and air.

Safe water is critical to public health. 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 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.

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.

I am sure that the Ontario government can find a way to support healthy and sustainable businesses, without it being at the expense of our drinking water, our clean air, or our protected nature areas.

Please advise the Ministers responsible that the people of Ontario are concerned, and that everyone, including business owners and Conservative voters, need clean water and air. We need a government that will protect these essentials for everyone’s health and wellbeing!