I am writing to vehemently…

I am writing to vehemently oppose the changes contained within Bill 197 (COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020). The proposed changes in several sections weaken environmental protections and allow the Minister to unjustly overrule protections implemented by Conservation Authorities or local governments.

The Conservation Authorities have been a part of Ontario's fabric for many years, but their founding was in response to serious issues with flooding brought on by a natural disaster. If the recent few years have been any guide, flooding is happening more and more often. Without the protection of natural wetlands and green spaces, our communities would be even more vulnerable to flood damage.

The proposed changes would significantly weaken the position of the Conservation Authorities by allowing complainants to circumvent them entirely by going to the Minister. The Conservation Authorities have a duty to respect science and the law. Deliberately disregarding their rulings would be an easy win for unscrupulous developers and a loss for the future of Ontario. While there may be a vocal minority who wish to do away with considered regulation in favour of short-term gain, we must instead increase environmental protections so that we can all continue to benefit from the protections that our wetlands and watersheds in turn provide to us.