I am writing to ask you to…

I am writing to ask you to remove Schedules 5 and 10 from the proposed Bill 66, Restoring Ontario's Competitiveness Act, 2018. These sections needlessly threaten essential health and safety protection for Ontario residents. Schedule 5 repeals needed controls on toxic substances. Schedule 10 would allow municipalities to circumvent planning requirements and land use restrictions under important provincial laws, plans and policies.

Schedule 10 of Bill 66 would override the Greenbelt Act, the Clean Water Act, the Great Lakes Protection Act, the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act all of which provide critical protection for our natural world and healthy communities. The protection of vital water sources is not optional, it is critical for the health and safety of all citizens. Health and safety protection is not red tape.

Schedule 10 proposes that open-for-business planning by-laws will not be subject to any notice, comment or hearing requirements under the Planning Act. Public participation is critical to ensure that the public can present perspectives and information that will balance those of the developer. Public participant requirements are not red tape but are essential to good land use planning.