TORONTO, ONT.\/TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE HURON-WENDAT, THE ANISHNAABEG, HAUDENOSAUNEE, CHIPPEWAS AND THE MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT FIRST NATION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Environmental groups are in court this Monday to challenge the Ford government\u2019s failure to consult with Ontarians before steamrolling through major changes to the province’s environmental laws with Bill 197, also known as the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act.<\/p>\n\n Ecojustice, on behalf of Greenpeace Canada and Wilderness Committee, will argue that in doing so, the Ford government has unlawfully ignored the voices of Ontarians before ramming through major changes to environmental assessments and planning laws.<\/p>\n\n In July 2020, in the space of just two weeks, the Ontario government tabled and passed Bill 197. The law made major changes to the province\u2019s Environmental Assessment Act, the Planning Act, and other laws essential for maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all Ontarians.<\/p>\n\n Bill 197 severely restricts the types of projects subject to comprehensive environmental assessment and public consultation. It excludes major undertakings like municipal sewage treatment plants and highways under 75 km, such as the proposed Bradford Bypass and Highway 413 projects. In some cases, communities may not be aware that a project is happening until shovels are already in the ground.<\/p>\n\n The Ford government did not consult with the public prior to passing Bill 197 into law. Under the province\u2019s Environmental Bill of Rights, the people of Ontario have the right to be heard and consulted before any major changes are made to environmental laws. The consequences of Bill 197\u2019s legislative changes are now causing conflict in communities across Ontario \u2013 for example in the government\u2019s freer use of Minister\u2019s Zoning Orders<\/a> (MZOs) to greenlight controversial development projects.<\/p>\n\n The environmental groups bringing the suit allege that this behaviour by the government now forms a \u201cpattern of illegal conduct.\u201d In a 2019 ruling<\/a> by the Ontario Divisional Court, a court majority agreed that Doug Ford\u2019s decision to scrap the province\u2019s carbon cap-and-trade program without public consultation was unlawful.<\/p>\n\n Ian Miron, Ecojustice lawyer, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \u201cThe Ford government broke the law when it failed to consult the public on changes introduced by Bill 197.<\/p>\n\n \u201cThis is part of a repeated pattern of behaviour by the provincial government. From the unlawful scrapping of cap and trade, to pushing through unwanted developments using ministerial zoning orders, this government has repeatedly pushed an anti-environment agenda while cutting Ontarians out of the decision-making process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Priyanka Vittal, Legal counsel for Greenpeace Canada, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \u201cTime and again we\u2019ve seen Doug Ford\u2019s government limit public participation to drive through his ideologically-driven agenda. Ontarians are now living the consequences of Ford\u2019s disregard for public opinion, expert advice and scientific evidence.<\/p>\n\n \u201cBut whether Doug Ford likes it or not, the laws of this province require his government to consult Ontarians before making changes that impact our environment. His government\u2019s failure to do so is illegal. So we\u2019re saying enough is enough. Doug Ford\u2019s government must answer for its actions in court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n Katie Krelove, Ontario campaigner for the Wilderness Committee<\/strong>, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \u201cPeople are waking up to how destructive Bill 197 really is. The Ford government fast tracking developments on wetlands with Ministerial Zoning Orders and reduced environmental assessments for harmful new highways are two recent examples.\u201d<\/p>\n\n \u201cThe underhanded ways the Ford government has gone about pushing forward its anti-environmental agenda spits in the face of the public. Right now what\u2019s important for Ontarians is transparency. Taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to sneak through deregulation for development and industry without public consultation shows how completely two-faced this government is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Ecojustice<\/a> uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions and law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada\u2019s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada\u2019s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.<\/em><\/p>\n\nBackground<\/h3>\n\n
About:<\/h3>\n\n