Dear Premier Ford; I am…

Dear Premier Ford;

I am writing on behalf of the 200+ members of a property owners’ association in eastern Ontario to voice our opposition to Schedule 10 of the government’s proposed Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act (Bill 66).

Our association is a strong advocate for the health and protection of the lakes, rivers, and surrounding lands in the region. In recent years we have pushed for shoreline restoration, fish habitat rehabilitation, and improved septic regulations.

Ontario lakes and ground water have been under increasing stress from development and shoreline land settlement, fewer forests and wetlands, and climate change, as well as invasive species like zebra mussels.

Now is not the time to bypass the acts and regulations that have been developed over the years to protect this most precious resource. Specifically, we oppose Schedule 10, which proposes an “open-for-business” planning bylaw allowing municipalities to approve development projects without conforming to the Clean Water Act and other protective acts developed after the Walkerton tragedy. This will lead to the degradation of the quality of drinking and bathing water, jeopardizing citizen health and safety once again. Furthermore, the bylaw abolishes public consultation and appeal processes on these development projects.

What you call “red tape” and “burdensome regulations” are in fact crucial protections developed through careful scientific study, grassroots consultation, and local oversight that help safeguard our lakes, rivers, and aquifers from the pressures of the future. We recognize the need to encourage economic growth but not at the expense of health and safety nor the future viability of our waterways. In addition to this unacceptable risk, the enormous economic benefits provided by Ontario’s lakes and rivers through recreational and tourism activities would be jeopardized.

A detailed legal analysis of the concerns raised by this bill is available in this report by the Canadian Environmental Law Association. http://www.cela.ca/sites/cela.ca/files/CELAlegalanalysis-Bill66andCWA.p…

We urge you to withdraw Schedule 10 in favour of a more thorough, balanced approach.