STOP AMENDMENTS OF 69 ACTS IN ONTARIO 2012 BUDGET BILL-55
- by: Linda Heron, Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA)
- recipient: The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario
Ontario Rivers Alliance (ORA) is concerned with the irregular means being used to amend numerous pieces of legislation, normally administered under our Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), by including these amendments in Ontario Budget Bill-55, which is exempt from public input.
This budget bill would amend 69 different Acts, many are environmentally significant laws prescribed under the Environmental Bill of Rights, and administered by the Ministry of Natural Resourced, including:
Endangered Species Act,
Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act,
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act,
Public Lands Act,
Crown Forest Sustainability Act, and
Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act.
Normally, when the government proposes to amend legislation that is prescribed under the EBR, it is posted on the Environmental Registry for 30 days to provide the public an opportunity to have input and consideration. These steps help make for a transparent and accountable process. The budget bill is exempt from public consultation and comment.
Send a clear message to our Premier that:
- Our environmental and endangered species legislation needs to be strengthened, not weakened;
- Our Environmental Bill of Rights must be respected and adhered to;
- All amendments to Acts be removed from Bill 55 unless directly pertaining to the budget;
- Any plans to move further into a self-regulating, proponent led process be posted on the EBR Registry for public consultation and input; and
- Any plans to change MNR responsibilities and mandate be posted on the EBR Registry to go through a public consultation and comment process.
Dear Premier McGuinty:
Re: Bill 55, Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2012
I wish to express my concern with the numerous Acts being amended within the 2012 Budget Bill-55.
I respectfully request that:
- All amendments to Acts be removed from Bill 55 unless directly pertaining to the budget;
- Any plans to move further into a self-regulating, proponent led process be posted on the EBR Registry for public consultation and input;
- Any plans to change MNR responsibilities and mandate be posted on the EBR Registry to go through a public consultation and comment process; and
- All Amendments to Acts administered under the Environmental Bill of Rights be registered on the EBR Registry for public consultation and comment.
As a citizen who cares about the environment, natural resources and riverine ecosystems, I urge you to not provide for-profit corporations with an even more streamlined, user-friendly, check-box style, self-regulating system where there are few to no barriers to getting development proposals up and running quickly.
This government’s first priority must be, “the betterment of the people of the whole or any part of Ontario by providing for the protection, conservation and wise management in Ontario of the environment.”
By presenting amendments to 69 Acts in Budget Bill 55, our democratic right to comment on the numerous Acts administered under the Environmental Bill of Rights, is being by-passed.
Please remove these numerous Act amendments from Bill-55!
Sincerely,
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.