The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario released its 2024 Annual Reports in December. Several of the reports shine a light on the continued pattern of weakening environmental protections in Ontario and ineffectively implementing existing protections.
In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, the findings are a damning indictment of the long-term health and sustainability of the province. While there is far too much from these reports to cover here, this blog will provide a summary of some of the most egregious findings. See our separate blog on the follow-up report on urban flood risks, which highlights the Ontario Government’s disregard for wetlands.
Operation of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 (EBR)
The EBR, 1993, grants the people of Ontario the right to participate in certain government decisions affecting the environment. It also gives the right to ask ministries to review existing legislation or policies, to appeal decisions in certain cases and ask ministries to investigate alleged harm to the environment.
The recent Auditor General report on the performance of the EBR found that ministries did not always meet their EBR obligations and that several decisions were made in a way that goes against the purposes of the EBR. Specifically, the report found that the province passed two bills before EBR consultation periods ended, preventing feedback from being considered.
The EBR is how the people of Ontario participate in government decision-making that impacts the environment. Yet it has become increasingly clear its effectiveness is performative rather than meaningful.
Use of Minister Zoning Orders (MZOs)
MZOs are a tool that the Government of Ontario uses to fast-track development. Ontario Nature has been urging the government to curtail its use of MZOs for the past several years. The 2024 Auditor General Report on the use of MZOs highlights that 17 times more MZOs were issued from 2019 to 2023 compared to the previous two decades and that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing frequently failed to seek out information about the potential environmental impacts of projects seeking authorization via an MZO.
Addressing the housing crisis cannot be done by sacrificing precious natural areas and vital farmland in an undemocratic and untransparent process like the issuing of an MZO.
Changes to the Plan in 2017 allow development that harms endangered species habitat. The Plan also allows new and expanded aggregate operations on the escarpment despite the environmental impacts, poor restoration records and no justification of the need for additional quarries. The Niagara Escarpment Commission no longer conducts environmental monitoring and has not assessed the cumulative impacts of 12,000 development permits issued since 1975.
The next scheduled review of the Plan is in 2025, and Ontario Nature will continue to advocate for increased protections for this important region.
There is perhaps no more fitting example of exempting proposals from proper public engagement and environmental assessment processes than the Ontario Place redevelopment. The 2024 Auditor General Report included a scathing report on the Ontario Place redevelopment that has been well covered by the media.
Collectively these reports demonstrate that the Government of Ontario continues to undermine environmental protections in a non-transparent and unaccountable manner. Ontario Nature will continue to push back against this pattern and advocate for nature.
Tony joined Ontario Nature in 2024. He holds a MES from York University, where he focused on biodiversity policy in Ontario, and a B.A from Trent University with a joint major in Environmental Studies and Political Studies. Tony has over 10 years of professional experience with various government departments and agencies in Ontario and the Northwest Territories. He has a strong background in environmental policy, strategic planning, and land use and watershed planning at the provincial and municipal level. Outside of Ontario Nature, Tony enjoys cycling, reading, cooking, and exploring new places.
One Reply to “Auditor General Reports Sound Alarm Bells for Ontario’s Environment”
The alarm bells have been going off for a long time. If we keep doing the same things we get the same results.
People care about the environment, however they need housing, food, and shelter. The will live in newly built homes on the Niagara, escarpment which went from fruits, to wine, to people. They will complain about coyotes invading Hamilton downtown. They will work for industries, that have dubious environmental records, because they have families to feed. People try to chip away at the negative causes, but are overwhelmed. For example, where does the municipal recycling really end up. Much of fast food recycling was also found to be only for show.
We need viable solutions which maintain a viable balance for all concerned. Most government reports remain just that because you cannot expect the people, whose status is invested in keeping the status quo, to change it. Elections are coming so people will have their chance to ask questions and make choices.
The alarm bells have been going off for a long time. If we keep doing the same things we get the same results.
People care about the environment, however they need housing, food, and shelter. The will live in newly built homes on the Niagara, escarpment which went from fruits, to wine, to people. They will complain about coyotes invading Hamilton downtown. They will work for industries, that have dubious environmental records, because they have families to feed. People try to chip away at the negative causes, but are overwhelmed. For example, where does the municipal recycling really end up. Much of fast food recycling was also found to be only for show.
We need viable solutions which maintain a viable balance for all concerned. Most government reports remain just that because you cannot expect the people, whose status is invested in keeping the status quo, to change it. Elections are coming so people will have their chance to ask questions and make choices.