{"id":46965,"date":"2021-03-26T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=46965"},"modified":"2021-03-26T14:10:09","modified_gmt":"2021-03-26T18:10:09","slug":"doug-ford-wants-to-change-ontarios-planning-act-destroy-protected-areas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/46965\/doug-ford-wants-to-change-ontarios-planning-act-destroy-protected-areas\/","title":{"rendered":"Doug Ford wants to change Ontario\u2019s Planning Act to destroy protected areas \u2013 but we won\u2019t let him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ford is trying to change the law so his government will have absolute power to destroy Ontario\u2019s protected natural areas. <a href=\"#takeaction\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#takeaction\">TAKE ACTION NOW.<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"860\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/44f7c377-walmart_canada_walmart_canada_and_condor_properties_break_ground_1_cropped.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46966\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/44f7c377-walmart_canada_walmart_canada_and_condor_properties_break_ground_1_cropped.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/44f7c377-walmart_canada_walmart_canada_and_condor_properties_break_ground_1_cropped-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/44f7c377-walmart_canada_walmart_canada_and_condor_properties_break_ground_1_cropped-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/44f7c377-walmart_canada_walmart_canada_and_condor_properties_break_ground_1_cropped-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 860px) 100vw, 860px\" \/><figcaption>Doug Ford helps break ground for a development project approved via MZO, August 2020. <br>Photo credit: CNW Group\/Walmart Canada, obtained via National Observer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p>Are you ready to help mount a massive resistance to Doug Ford\u2019s anti-democratic attacks on Ontario\u2019s environment?<\/p>\n\n<p>In our last blog, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/46610\/duffins-creek-wetlands-vs-warehouse-resisting-doug-ford-assault-on-communities-and-environment\/?utm_campaign=forests&amp;campaign_project=ontarioesa&amp;utm_source=p4&amp;utm_medium=post&amp;utm_term=read&amp;utm_content=link&amp;content_specific=dougfordmzo.schedule3blog&amp;ea.tracking.id=en_forests_ontarioesa_p4_post_20210326_read_link_dougfordmzo.schedule3blog\">we detailed Doug Ford\u2019s latest methods to destroy the environment while avoiding public accountability<\/a>. In summary:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Ford\u2019s government is rolling out dozens of Minister\u2019s Zoning Orders, or MZOs, to approve construction projects on environmentally sensitive lands \u2013 like the Duffins Creek wetland in Pickering. Approving a project via MZO means Ford doesn\u2019t have to do an environmental impact assessment, consult the public, follow local planning rules, or offer an appeals process \u2013<strong> <\/strong>i.e. <strong>no accountability to the people who elected him<\/strong>.<\/li><li>When Ford meets with resistance \u2013 like laws that might limit his government\u2019s absolute authority \u2013 he simply changes the law. In December Ford\u2019s government passed legislation that stripped conservation authorities\u2019 power to reject projects that pose a flood risk. And <strong>now Ford is trying to change the law so his government can be permitted to destroy protected ecological areas<\/strong>\u2026&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p>But we still have time to stop him.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Doug Ford\u2019s proposed open season on legally protected areas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p>Ford\u2019s current attempt to change the law is almost mind blowingly draconian, like something <strong>straight out of a dystopian novel<\/strong>. Buried in a legislative bill about broadband internet, the Ford government is trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ola.org\/en\/legislative-business\/bills\/parliament-42\/session-1\/bill-257\">amend the Planning Act so that MZOs<\/a> \u201c<em>are not required and are deemed to never have been required to be consistent with policy statements issued under subsection 3 (1)<\/em>.\u201d (Bill 257, Section 3)<\/p>\n\n<p>What does this actually mean? Let\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Government of Ontario issues a <a href=\"https:\/\/files.ontario.ca\/mmah-provincial-policy-statement-2020-accessible-final-en-2020-02-14.pdf\">Provincial Policy Statement<\/a> (as part of the Planning Act) that basically specifies how land can and cannot be used. Most critically, the Policy Statement specifies that <strong>\u201cdevelopment and site alteration shall not be permitted\u201d in natural areas like wetlands, woodlands and wildlife habitat that have been deemed \u201cprovincially significant.\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n<p>So when the Ford government issued an MZO greenlighting the destruction of the provincially significant Duffins Creek wetlands, this may have been not only immoral <strong>but actually illegal<\/strong>. A group of environmental organizations <a href=\"https:\/\/niagaraatlarge.com\/2020\/11\/30\/environmental-groups-sue-ford-government-to-keep-ontario-wetlands-protected\/\">launched a lawsuit against the Ford government<\/a> arguing exactly this. (We have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/press-release\/41256\/groups-sue-ford-government-for-unlawful-failure-to-consult-bill-197\/\">our own lawsuit against the Ford government<\/a> pending.)<\/p>\n\n<p>But rather than wait for his day in court \u2013 and risk being told to back off from destroying protected areas \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/toronto\/ontario-doug-ford-mzo-pickering-duffins-creek-1.5937584\">Ford is simply changing the law<\/a>. And not only is he changing the law for the future going forward, but he is attempting to retroactively change the law for the past. So according to the proposed legislation, <strong>the rules that exist now \u201c<\/strong><strong><em>are deemed to never have been required.<\/em><\/strong><strong>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>No, this is not 1984. This is Ontario 2021.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"744\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/109b7aec-pz_duffinsblockade_3___super_portrait.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-46969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/109b7aec-pz_duffinsblockade_3___super_portrait.jpg 744w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/109b7aec-pz_duffinsblockade_3___super_portrait-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-canada-stateless\/2021\/03\/109b7aec-pz_duffinsblockade_3___super_portrait-510x306.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 744px) 100vw, 744px\" \/><figcaption>Demonstrators protest the destruction of the Duffins Creek wetlands, Pickering<br>Photo credit: DurhamRegion.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"takeaction\">Two ways for you to push back:<\/h2>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Public consultations now open<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The proposed changes to the Planning Act are open for comment<strong> until April 3rd<\/strong>. <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/ero.ontario.ca\/notice\/019-3233\" target=\"_blank\">ADD YOUR VOICE NOW: <\/a><\/strong>tell Doug Ford to reject Schedule 3 of Bill 257 and stop misusing Ministerial Zoning Orders to destroy Nature. Remind him that it is unacceptable for the Ontario government to destroy provincially significant natural areas while changing the law so he can\u2019t be held accountable.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons aligncenter is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-cta\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/ero.ontario.ca\/notice\/019-3233\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TALK BACK: HELL NO MZO<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Flood Doug Ford\u2019s phone line<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<p>As Ontarians, we must defend our environment and our democracy. We cannot let Doug Ford get away with this.<\/p>\n\n<p>This is urgent. Ford is consulting with Ontarians on this latest legal change until April 3 and could take a decision shortly afterwards. <strong>Call Doug Ford\u2019s office today to oppose his latest attempt to destroy Ontario\u2019s environment at the expense of our democracy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Doug Ford (Premier\u2019s Office) phone number: <strong>416-325-1941<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Suggested call script:<br><em>\u201cHello Mr. Ford, [I am an Ontario voter and] I am calling on your government to reject Schedule 3 of Bill 257. It is unacceptable for your government to destroy Ontario\u2019s significant natural areas and to change the law so you can\u2019t be held accountable. I stand with Ontario\u2019s natural environment and with democracy. Thank you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n<p>Thank-you for taking action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you ready to help mount a massive resistance to Doug Ford\u2019s anti-democratic attacks on Ontario\u2019s environment?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":46966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"not set","p4_local_project":"not set","p4_basket_name":"not set","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[27,28,33],"p4-page-type":[16],"class_list":["post-46965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nature","tag-forests","tag-health","tag-peacefulprotest","p4-page-type-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46965"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46965\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47010,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46965\/revisions\/47010"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46965"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=46965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}