Friends of the Salmon River is astounded and inflamed over the impacts of Bill 23: the Government of Ontario is proposing sweeping changes to the province’s natural heritage and land use planning legislation. If this bill goes through, we have a great deal to lose. The public will lose their right to be notified of upcoming developments and lose their right to appeal decisions about developments.
What about the effect on Conservation Authorities? Bill 23 will effectively remove the power of Conservation Authorities (CAs) to regulate development that negatively impacts wetlands and waterways. It will prohibit CAs from working with municipalities to provide expert review of planning applications, and limit the CAs’ right to appeal land use planning decisions.
Brad McNevin, CAO of Quinte Conservation said: “The proposed changes outlined in Bill 23 would have many serious, negative impacts to our environment, which would contribute to issues with water quality, public safety, increased taxes, and a higher demand for new infrastructure and maintenance.”
The Ontario Wetland Evaluation System will be dismantled. Provincially Significant Wetlands now receive a high level of protection, but under Bill 23, they will be at risk of losing that designation, leaving them open to development and destruction. Similarly, our Wetland Complexes may lose their designation.
The potential development of Wetland Complexes leaves the headwaters of the Salmon River – the Kennebec Wetland Complex, the lifeblood of the Salmon watershed – open to disturbances from which it might never recover. Wetlands reduce flooding, provide filtering (i.e., cleaning) and regulate the flow of rivers. Wetlands are an essential part of our landscape, and their losses could do great harm to our water quality, quantity, and many of the species that live here.
Who will ensure the environmental protections that help preserve our land and waterways for everyone’s benefit? Without Conservation Authorities, who will protect people and property from natural hazards? This leaves a huge unguarded gap, especially now, in a time of climate crisis.
Take action if you wish to support FSR and help save our precious land and waterways.
See www.friendsofsalmonriver.ca to send a (pre-written) letter to your MPP.
For more information, contact: infofriendsofsalmonriver@gmail.com
Friends of the Salmon River