I absolutely DO NOT SUPPORT…

I absolutely DO NOT SUPPORT Bill 108 in its current form.

It will place too much decision making power in the hands of the Local Planning Appeal Tribunals (LPATs) - unelected, likely appointed for political reasons and not answerable by any democratic process to the people living where the decision about their community is being made.

This will be a disaster for the environment, for endangered species and (with the Ontario Heritage Act changes, also decided by LPATs) for properties of heritage and historic value because there is no requirement that appointees to the LPATs have any expertise or knowledge of wise city planning or environmental and heritage preservation.

So why should preservation of the quality of life in cities, of the environment, of endangered species or of built and natural heritage matter to this government? Let me put it in economic terms you may understand. As it stands, Bill 108 gives a totally free hand to developers to make money no matter what is destroyed in the process.

If, however, in the process you destroy the quality of life with loss of urban heritage and character, with fewer parks and playgrounds and with degradation of the countryside and perhaps (and maybe this is the aim) destruction of the Green Belt this will be the result: soul destroying surroundings as cities become nothing but miles of high rises and strip malls will lead to more violence; loss of the rural natural beauty and diversity that attracts tourists and enhances the health and well being of Ontario residents will lead both to lost tourist revenue and increased costs for health care and mental health care and policing. THIS WILL COST THE ONTARIO ECONOMY AND ONTARIO TAXPAYERS MILLIONS of dollars.

I consider myself a small "c" conservative - handle money and allocated it wisely for present use and long term results and conserve the gifts we have been given by God and by those who came before us - people who worked hard to make this a happier, healthier place to live.

If you care at all about this Province and really are for ALL, not just SOME, of the people you will withdraw Bill 108 and take a reasonable amount of time to do some serious consultation.

Of course maybe you just care about letting developers make more money, not about Ontario and its citizens.

In that case, let me say this - where do you think those developers will go after they have "strip-mined" (it's a metaphor) the economy of this Province? They will be living and spending their money somewhere where people have cared enough to preserve their heritage, their culture, their environment and the quality of life in their cities. They won't be hanging around here contributing long term to our prosperity. But maybe you don't care about that. In that case, please don't expect to be re-elected!