Waterkeeper's comments on the review of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights and Regulations
Great Lakes Trust open water swimmers testing the lake's autumn waters. (Photo by Dylan Neild)
Today, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper submitted comments to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario regarding the review of Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR).
The EBR is a powerful piece of legislation that has been the cornerstone of Waterkeeper's provincial work to protect swimmable drinkable fishable water for over a decade. It is also a key tool for Ontarians to participate in environmental decision-making processes.
In 2010, Ontario implemented the Legislative Framework for Modernizing Environmental Approvals, which created issues in the implementation of the EBR (and Waterkeeper voiced concern for this as well). This review is an opportunity to flag our concerns about transparency, as well as accountability for institutions that delay implementing decisions made under the EBR.
Read our complete submission below:
In addition to our submission, Waterkeeper also wholly endorses the detailed comments submitted on by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (“CELA”) on November 4, 2016.