Death by a thousand cuts. That is what we and the rest of the world are doing. All in the name of "economic activity" we are overpopulating and slowly devastating the Earth. We are doing this with the cheerful dismantling of environmental checks and balances by right wing only partially ideological political forces. Looking close to home it is the Conservative government of Doug Ford who have removed "red tape" slowing down development. This development includes in and around wetlands. It includes gravel pits beside residential areas. It includes new residential subdivisions literally across the street from chemical companies as here in Elmira. It also includes the renamed Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).It makes little difference what the name is.
Risk Assessments are a joke. Environmental Assessments if you can get them are a joke. Here in Elmira we are advised that the Risk Assessment for the Canagagigue Creek is voluntary. Of course it is when the entire "assessment" is under the control and purvue of the polluter (Uniroyal/Lanxess). Of course it's voluntary when it determines, neither unilaterally nor independently, that downstream cleanup is not needed as all toxic risks are "acceptable".
The Planning Act is either a disgrace or being badly abused or both. The same goes for all environmental legislation in this province. It stinks!
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