With all due respect, Bill…

With all due respect, Bill 23 threatens wildlife in Ontario!

Bill 23 and other proposed legislative and policy changes would affect natural heritage conservation, urban and rural land-use planning, and environmental protections through multiple and complex changes to:
• Conservation Authorities Act
• Greenbelt Area boundary regulation
• Greenbelt Plan
• Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan
• Ontario Heritage Act and its regulations
• Ontario Land Tribunal Act, 2001
• Planning Act
• City of Toronto Act
• and more

I share concerns that such changes will weaken environmental protections, infringe on Indigenous rights, limit public involvement in land-use planning and decision making, remove cities’ green building standards, remove farmland needed for food production – and, that it won’t increase (and may in fact decrease) the supply of truly affordable housing for people who need it the most. Further, the bill is based on the premise that there is insufficient land currently available for new housing – a premise that has been widely refused by housing and land-use planning experts.

Many organizations have also expressed their significant concerns regarding proposed changes to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System that would significantly undermine the protection of wetlands in Ontario and could lead to the loss of vital and threatened bird and wildlife habitat.

Bill 23 and other proposed legislative and policy changes would affect natural heritage conservation, urban and rural land-use planning, and environmental protections will cause irreparable damage. For the sake of current and future generations, I urge you to abandon your plans to remove the protection of natural and hydrological systems and farmland must be prioritized. You do know they are finite, irreplaceable and invaluable for community and ecosystem health and resilience.

After having lived through the May 2022 Canadian Derecho, I fail to see any logic behind legislation that would remove much needed protection of our wetlands, farmland and natural areas in Ontario. Please say NO to Government by Oligarchy. Ontario families and Mother Earth need YOU on our side! Thank YOU for taking the time to read my comment. [If possible, kindly read: CBC https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/land-owners-developers-ottawa-urb… ; Ottawa Citizen https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/unintended-consequences-local… ; The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/ford-ontario-greenbelt-cuts-developers/ ].

Respectfully Yours,
A concerned Canadian