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The Government of Ontario announced plans on November 15, 2018 to eliminate the office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO) and transfer much of its responsibility to the jurisdiction of the Auditor General. This misguided decision undercuts the power and independence of Ontario’s environmental watchdog.
In response, Ontario Nature has rallied our community resulting in more than 4,000 individual emails to Premier Doug Ford, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli and various Cabinet Ministers, letting them know we will not quietly stand by as our remaining natural environment is put at risk. You can help us reach our goal of 6,000 emails:
Additionally, 56 of our Nature Network groups have jointly signed the letter below expressing our concern. Our Nature Network is a dedicated network of roughly 150 local conservation groups that help us bring local issues across Ontario to the attention of the province. Together we are a powerful collective voice for conservation. You can read our letter below.
Dear Premier Ford,
We are 57 organizations representing communities across Ontario that are dedicated to the conservation and appreciation of the natural environment. We are writing to express our grave concern that your government has announced its plan to eliminate the independent office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (ECO).
For over twenty-five years, Ontario citizens have greatly benefitted from relying on the ECO as an independent, non-partisan officer of the Legislature to hold all governments accountable for their decisions and efforts in protecting Ontarians’ vast and unparalleled environment.
Ontario has one of the richest natural and environmental legacies in the world, with most of the Great Lakes bordering our province, with vast portions of the world’s critical boreal forests, and with beautiful lakes and rivers in which Ontarians paddle, boat, fish, swim, cottage and drink. Ensuring the sustainability and health of our natural environment is critically important to Ontario’s identity, culture and economy. Actions which hold polluters accountable is essential, as you have noted in your own remarks in recent months.
Over the years, the ECO has produced numerous in-depth reports on key issues facing Ontario, from climate change to endangered species. This kind of independent, clear-eyed analysis of the impact and effectiveness of government actions and policies is critically important to highlighting whether government actions are resulting in reduced environmental risks or not. We are facing a combined climate and biodiversity crisis and growing impacts on human health. We need the kind of quality evidence-based recommendations – and environmental accountability — that the ECO has regularly produced now more than ever.
In our view, eliminating the ECO is contrary to these environmental protection objectives. Since 1993, the ECO and its specialized staff have informed and empowered Ontarians to effectively exercise their legal rights under the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) to safeguard the environment and public health and safety. In addition, the annual and special reports filed by the ECO have flagged opportunities to improve and strengthen Ontario’s environmental safety net.
Therefore, we collectively call on your government to ensure that the ECO continues to exist as a stand-alone, independent office with all of its powers, duties and responsibilities intact under the EBR. We therefore call on you not to proceed with the revisions proposed in schedule 15 to Bill 57 which eliminate the stand-alone office of the ECO. We would appreciate an opportunity to meet with you urgently to further discuss and describe the importance of the ECO role to all Ontarians and Ontario’s natural environment.
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Schultz
Executive Director
Ontario Nature
David Miller, Executive Director A2A – Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative Ben Coleman, Acting Chair Lynne Freeman, President Don Scallen, President Bronwen Tregunno, President Kerry Kennedy, President Mark Cranford, President Paul Pratt, President Paul Dejardins, President Sheila Fleming, President Felicia Syer, President Bernie Vendenbelt, President Bob Johnstone, President Dave Smith, President Sara Dolbeck, President Kathy Strachan, President Josh Shea, President Brett Forsyth, President Angus Inksetter, President |
Kevin Thomason, President Sunfish Lake Association Steve Page, Chair Simon Smith, President Susan Moore, President Anthony Kaduck, President Karen Brown, Chair Marilyn Murray, President Linda McCormick, President Diane Lepage, President Sandra Dowd, President George Thomson, President Ray Metcalfe, President David Stringer, President Ray Metcalfe, President Brian Roadhouse, President Alex Mills, President J. Donald Morgan, Chair Tom Wilson, President Brian Bissell, President |
Denis Paccagnella, President Orillia Naturalists’ Club Glenda Clayton, President Paul Harpley, President Jeanne Beneteau, President Lois Gillette, President Derek Connolly, President Ted Vale, President Steve LaForest, President Otto Peter, President Jason Ramsay-Brown, President Tom Tottenham, President Gloria Marsh, President Peter Beckett, President Ted Kilpatrick, President Marcel Beneteau, President Ron Prickett, President Bruce Thacker, President Robin Cunningham, President |
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