Bill 23 represents a wide sweeping attack on our environment. We need your help to either stop or amend it.
If you are unaware of the issue please read this overview written by Environmental Defence or this backgrounder by Ontario Nature and this review from Professor Dawn Parker of the University of Waterloo.
In short, Bill 23 is a 227 page Omnibus Bill that significantly changes numerous acts and regulations, undermining a communities ability to effectively deliver affordable housing (despite the acts intent), severely limits Conservation Authorities role in protecting our community, and overrules regional planning authority to prevent urban sprawl into our rural and natural spaces. This Act has already passed second reading (in a matter of days) and could pass third reading as early as Friday this week! It is incredibly urgent that we address yet another attack on our democracy (the fast tracking of this huge Act) and ask for something better from our Provincial Government.
The Waterloo Region Nature Board has shared a letter expressing our concerns with all relevant Ministers and local MPPs. The letter is attached to this email. We have also reached out to our local MPPs for in-person meetings to discuss our opinion of Bill 23.
What we are asking you to do:
Please join me and Environmental Defence in signing this petition.
Contact as many people, groups, associations, special interest groups as you can and make sure they know about Bill 23. Ask them to make their voices heard.
Express your concerns about the bill to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, responsible for reviewing and approving or modifying the bill before third and final reading (deadline for comment is November 17).
Review the multiple postings on the Environmental Registry of Ontario related to Bill 23, summarized by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) and shared by Ontario Nature.
Call or email your MPP and or MP to discuss this issue. In Waterloo our MPPs are:
Thank you!
Levi Moore
Conservation Director
Waterloo Region Nature
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