I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my opposition to Bill 23 and associated policy proposals to change the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System that would weaken environmental protections and undermine public involvement in land use planning and decision-making.
I have been in the environmental and planning field for over 30 years when I started my career Ontario was at the forefront of environmental planning and regulations, unfortunately we are now near the bottom and the proposed changes in Bill 23 will accelerate this process.
Your government has produced a narrative of a false crisis to help your developer friends. There is no shortage of developable lands, as detailed by Environmental Defense in the existing white belt there enough developable land for 25+ years. There is no crisis and there is no shortage of developable land. Tens of thousands of building permits currently sit idle; houses are not being constructed developers are just sitting on the approvals and crying that they need easier to develop sprawl lands for their profit-making machines.
It is impossible to comment on changes to the PPS without being provided with the justification and the proposed changes. The proposed changes will eliminate the protection of scarce natural resources that sustain us all.
The proposed changes to the OWES will result in few wetlands being designated PSW and downgrading current designated PSW's. We've lost between 75-85% of wetland in Ontario that provide protection from flooding, regulate climates rising temperatures and biodiversity. This will abandon the no-net loss provisions of the PPS resulting in harm to the people of Ontario.
The proposal to expand offsetting policies will accelerate the loss of wetland, woodlands, and other areas that will be destroyed by developing areas not needed. There is already enough white belt lands to accommodate the next 25 years of growth in the GTA. Offsetting cannot replace existing natural features created over hundreds and thousands of years and should not be implemented.
In the face of unprecedented and accelerating biodiversity loss and the ever-worsening climate crisis, I urge you to cancel these profound and dangerous changes to OWES and engage the various stakeholders, upper and lower tier municipalities, conservation authorities, Indigenous Peoples, interest groups and the general public in meaning full consultations to improve the existing policies in the province of Ontario.
I have attached a summary for your understanding of the impacts that will come from these changes.