Dear Mr. Ford, I respect…

Dear Mr. Ford,

I respect your plans to remove inefficiencies in government and make Ontario open for business. However, I ask of you and your Ministry to please do not do implement these plans at the cost of the environment. Our economy, our health, our vitality is all literally founded and hinged on the health and quality of the environment. Without a healthy sustainable environment, nothing can exist. This is why you cannot compartmentalize the 'environment' the same as everything else (economy, heath, transportation, planning, social justice, etc.). Everything is founded on the environment - it is a part of everything, not apart from it. Surely you are a wise person and you know and respect this. I am a business person as well, but yet even I understand this fundamental principle. We can no longer afford or allow business to move forward with no regard for protection of the natural environment (air, land, water, plants, animals). The degradation of the natural environment, inevitably will be the degradation of human life. Doug, I don't believe you or the Conservatives want to be remembered for lending to the degradation of nature and human life?

Remove Schedule 10 from Bill 66, which allows municipalities to override provisions in the Greenbelt Act, Clean Water Act, Lake Simcoe Act, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act and Great Lakes Protection Act.”

OR, at the least, implement the following:

1. Amend and/or make it clear that the Schedule 10 provisions only apply to existing built-up / urbanized areas to encourage infilling / brownfield development; and/or,

2. State that the natural heritage polices and requirements for protection of the environment (air, land, water, plants, animals) within the applicable legislation (e.g. Greenbelt Act, Lake Simcoe Protection Act, etc.) will still be required to be adhered to.