Ontario Bill-66

#KillBill66

On December 6, 2018 the Government of Ontario introduced Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act (“Bill 66”)

Bill 66 is an omnibus bill that would affect at least 15 pieces of various legislation including farming, daycares, private career colleges, wireless and changes allowing development to by-pass Ontario’s major environmental protections.

Planning Act

In reference to the Planning Act specifically, impacts would include adding a new section 34.1, which would allow local municipalities to pass “open-for-business” planning by-laws.  With approval from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, open-for-business planning by-laws would by-pass:

• Clean Water Act, 2006.
• Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015.
• Greenbelt Act, 2005.
• Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008.
• Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001.
• Places to Grow Act, 2005.
• Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016.

Bill 66 also proposes to repeal the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009. This change would undermine transparency and accountability by eliminating industry obligations to report publicly on their uses of toxic substances and to identify options to reduce those substances through toxic reduction plans. (source)

The Ford government introduced Bill 66 and then abruptly ended the fall sitting of the legislature a week ahead of schedule.  The legislature is set to resume February 19, 2019. (article)

The “open-for-business” planning aspects of the Bill would negate four decades of work by groups and individuals who fought for Ontario’s current environmental protections.

What Can YOU Do?

You can comment until January 21, 2019 on the environmental aspects of Bill 66 on Ontario’s Environmental Registry (ero.ontario.ca).

Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) Summary

013-4293 Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018 (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)

013-4125 Proposed open-for-business planning tool (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)

013-4239 New Regulation under the Planning Act for open-for-business planning tool (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)

013-4234 Repeal the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 and all associated regulations by December 31, 2021 (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)

013-4235 Planning and reporting changes under the toxics reduction program and Ontario Regulation 455/09 (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)

 

You can contact your MPP and Premier Ford directly:

Contact Premier Ford:  https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx

 

*** Click here to find out more about Bill 66 at this Guelph Event ***

 

#ProtectPrimeFarmland #ProtectOurWater #ProtectOurGreenbelt #FoodAndWaterFirst

#KillBill66