The Shared Path Consultation…

The Shared Path Consultation Initiative (Shared Path) is a charitable organization that is addressing the challenges and opportunities that emerge where land use change and Aboriginal and treaty rights intersect. Shared Path works towards a future in which Indigenous voices and rights form a sustained and integral part of how we share land, particularly with respect to land use planning law, policy, and governance in Ontario.

We are concerned that Bill 257 (Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act, 2021), which follows on the heels of Bill 197 (COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020) is compromising the core tenants of provincial planning. Most strikingly, Indigenous communities across Ontario have not been consulted, meaningfully or otherwise, with regard to recent changes to the Planning Act, which have implications for Indigenous land and treaty rights, enshrined within the highest law of the land, the Constitution Act, 1982.

Our key concerns with Schedule 3, Bill 257, are as follows:
1. It undermines the vision and principles reflected in the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) and erodes relationships with Indigenous communities.
2. It is not consistent with Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 that affirms Aboriginal rights and the Duty to Consult, nor is it consistent with the aspirational principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC).
3. It undermines Truth and Reconciliation efforts.

In light of these key concerns, Shared Path respectfully requests that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Minister of Infrastructure withdraw Schedule 3 from Bill 257.

For details of our concerns, please refer to the attached PDF "Shared Path (SPCI) comments on ERO 019-3233"

Respectfully,

Carolyn King, Co-Founder, President and Chair of the Board

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Morgan Peters, Executive Director