BY EMAIL & REGISTRY PORTAL RE: ERO 019-4219 (Project List Amendments), ERO 019-6693 (Municipal Class EA),

For the reasons set out below, CELA and other aligned organizations and First Nations conclude that the various environmental assessment (EA) proposals set out in these Registry notices are highly problematic, unsupported by persuasive evidence, and contrary to the public interest purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA), namely the betterment of Ontarians by providing for the protection,. [...] In our view, the lack of specificity in the Registry notice undermines the ability of the public to meaningfully comment on Ontario’s intentions regarding the Municipal Class EA. [...] Finally, the Registry notice indicates that the existence of other legislative or planning requirements for certain municipal projects negates the need to apply the Municipal Class EA to such projects: Depending on the project and location there may be other legislative, planning processes or authorizations required that would provide for the assessment of a project’s impacts, consultation require. [...] For example, while operators of chemical manufacturing plants must obtain an environmental approval from the Ministry to emit contaminants into the land, air and water, the approvals do not consider the social, cultural, and economic impacts of the emissions.16 In our view, the Auditor General’s well-founded comments are equally applicable to municipal projects that may be subject to other legisla. [...] CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS For the foregoing reasons, CELA and the undersigned organizations and First Nations call upon the provincial government to withdraw and re-consider the fundamentally flawed proposals outlined in the three Registry notices.