Schreiner statement on restoration of Environmental Bill of Rights

June 15, 2020

QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner released the following statement after Regulation 115/20, which suspended part of the Environmental Bill of Rights, was revoked:

“I welcome the news that the Environmental Bill of Rights has been restored.

Public consultation on changes that affect our air and water is essential to keeping people and communities safe.

I disagree that a broad suspension of the Environmental Bill of Rights was necessary in the first place since there is an existing mechanism for emergency response that is more democratic.

Given the Ford government’s spotty record on environmental protections, there is reason to wonder what projects or regulations were given the go-ahead while this oversight was removed.

I am calling on the Environment Minister to release a complete list of the proposals that were exempted from public consultation so Ontarians can judge whether these emergency powers were used responsibly.”

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