Ontario tabled Bill 66 on Dec. 6. If passed, it would allow commercial development to bypass several long-standing acts and plans established to protect the natural environment and health of residents. In a nutshell, if a development has the support of both the municipal government and the province and shows it would create 50 new jobs it could get the go ahead despite being detrimental to our air, water and soil.
This regressive act seems par for the course from a government that has torn up hundreds of contracts, resulting in job and foreign investment losses and law sues with the cancellation of cap & trade. Looks like Ontario is closed for business, certainly in the area of long-term low carbon economy, clean technology jobs.
YREA and many other groups along with thousands of residents applaud enlightened municipalities that have opposed and will not implement Bill 66 including: Aurora, Barrie, Burlington, Cambridge, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Vaughan & Waterloo with more expected soon.