I would ask that the…

I would ask that the government withdraw this ill advised omnibus piece of legislation. The democratic rights of local citizens should not be taken away under the guise of making Ontario competitive. My specific concern is with the way this legislation undermines community planning by local citizens working hand in hand with their elected local Councils. We expect our elected Councils to be responsive to the concerns of the citizenry that elects them. We live in our communities and have the right to plan them properly. This legislation allows Councils and the provincial government to ignore a range of Ontario regulations that are in place to protect the planning process in communities. No elected body or government officials should be allowed to ignore the requirements of the Clean Water Act 2006, the Greenbelt Act 2005, the Oak Ridges Conservation Act 2001. No locally elected Council should be allowed to ignore proper notification and meaningful consultation with its public on important planning matters. No legislation should take away the right of appeal to by-laws made under the Planning Act and acts like those mentioned above. Competitiveness, efficiency and local democracy can go hand in hand. Bill 66 in its current draft form takes away the rights of citizens in order to be efficient. The Government of Ontario should never allow this to happen. The citizenry expects their elected government to protect their rights, not limit them in favour of giving a free hand to private corporations to develop Ontario as they see fit. Please withdraw this undemocratic piece of legislation.