My main concern with Bill 66…

My main concern with Bill 66, are the changes to the Planning Act.

It makes environmental & water related protections, which are there to ensure public health as well as the health of our environment, elective rather than mandatory.

I am an Indigenous person, and understand that we share ecosystems with neighboring municipalities. Their decisions will inevitably impact my territory. By providing a by-pass around regulations and environmental related policy, local municipalities can ignore the safeguards which were created to reduce risk & mitigate impacts.

Also, I have concerns with municipalities current lack of consultation with First Nation communities in decision making that may impact their rights. And providing a fast-track process would put First Nations inclusion/partnership/participation even further at risk.