Ford government keeps chipping away at Ontario’s conservation authorities

March 7, 2024

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens Leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to new regulations that will give Ontario’s minister of natural resources the ability to issue development permits without conservation authority review, in addition to giving developers new mechanisms to appeal decisions by conservation authorities.

“For decades, conservation authorities have been our first and best line of defence against serious flooding, protecting our lives, livelihoods and property by requiring changes to development proposals that threaten Ontario’s vital watersheds.

But ever since this Premier took office, his government has been gutting their power in service of his costly sprawl agenda.

With this latest round of unilateral changes, we’re seeing the Ford government yet again throw responsible planning out the window – concentrating even more power in the hands of a single cabinet minister.

It’s yet another part of a deeply disturbing trend – from the Greenbelt to Highway 413 – whereby this government puts speculator interests before the wellbeing of everyday Ontarians.”

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