Pits and quarries must not trump nature protection

Pits and quarries must not trump nature protection

The Government of Ontario wants to weaken protections for nature to fast track development across the province. With the goal of increasing housing supply and reducing barriers and costs for development, the government is amending the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), Ontario’s primary land use policy.

Proposed changes would allow aggregates extraction to trump existing protections for wetlands, woodlands and wildlife habitat, including habitat for threatened and endangered species. It would also require municipalities to expedite development and abandon many good land use planning practices in response to “market-based needs.”

The proposed new policy for aggregates extraction (section 2.5 ...

The Government of Ontario wants to weaken protections for nature to fast track development across the province. With the goal of increasing housing supply and reducing barriers and costs for development, the government is amending the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), Ontario’s primary land use policy.

Proposed changes would allow aggregates extraction to trump existing protections for wetlands, woodlands and wildlife habitat, including habitat for threatened and endangered species. It would also require municipalities to expedite development and abandon many good land use planning practices in response to “market-based needs.”

The proposed new policy for aggregates extraction (section 2.5.2.2) is particularly worrisome.

It would permit pits and quarries in all significant natural features currently protected under the PPS: i.e., provincially significant wetlands (except in southern Ontario), provincially significant woodlands, valleylands and wildlife habitat, significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest, fish habitat and the habitat of threatened and endangered species. It would apply across Ontario, except in the Greenbelt.

Ontarians cannot let these proposed changes fly under the radar. Our natural heritage and rural landscapes should not be sacrificed to the interests of aggregates companies.

The deadline for comment is October 21, 2019. Read our blog for more information.

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Stand with us to stop harmful aggregates extraction

Your letter will be sent to:

  • Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
  • Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  • Consultation Contact: [email protected] 
  • Your local MPP

The deadline for comment about the Provincial Policy Statement review (ERO# 019-0279) is October 21, 2019.

 

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