I’m writing to voice my…

I’m writing to voice my complete opposition to this legislation, which would erase decades worth of good, safe, and essential environmental protections in Ontario. I am deeply disturbed that our government has coined this proposed legislation "open for business". It reaffirms my belief that our current provincial government is only capably of short sighted thinking and analysis.

My understanding is that the legislation is configured to leave the final decision to ignore/disregard environmental legislation is up to municipal councils. This is completely inappropriate. Anyone who has ever thought critically about the environment can tell you that there are no borders to ecosystems. Leaving a single municipality responsible for making decisions about projects with environmental impact is irresponsible and unfair. Not to mention that it leaves municipal councils in a conflict of interest - balancing the environment against development charges, tax income and "investments" into the local community that result from new developments.

Of particular concern to me is the risk to erasing The Clean Water Act which was put in place after the tragedy in Walkerton Ontario where seven people died from e-coli. Major improvements to the protection of this essential resource were implemented in The Clean Water Act. This is the area in which I work - municipal water system design. My job as a professional engineer is to safeguard public health and safety. Not just for today, or tomorrow, but for the long terms. For generations to come.

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.

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