Bill 55 Obstructs Public's Rights

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Published on Tuesday, 10 April 2012 16:07
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Call to Action - Omnibus Bill 55 Takes Away Public's Rights to Comment

The Minister of Finance, Dwight Duncan, tabled for the first reading in the Legislature, Bill 55, "Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures) 2012". Bill 55 is an omnibus bill amending statutes including:

  • Endangered Species Act
  • Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act
  • Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
  • Public Lands Act
  • Crown Forest Sustainability Act
  • Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act

These laws are prescribed under the Environmental Bills of Rights 1993 (EBR) and any proposed changes should be posted on the EBR with a 30 day review and public comment period.

Omnibus Bill 55 is Violating the public's right to comment.

Contact your MP and ask him/her to make a stand to eliminate all references to amendments to Acts administered under the Environmental Bill of Rights from Bill 55 and failing that turn down Bill 55 in its entirety. We need stronger not weaker Environmental legislation to protect ourselves and future generations.

As posted In the News by Environmental Commissioner of Ontario

Last Tuesday, the Government of Ontario presented its proposed budget.  The Minister of Finance, the Honourable Dwight Duncan, tabled for first reading in the legislature Bill 55 – Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2012.  This budget bill is effectively the mother-of-all pieces of omnibus legislation.

Bill 55 amends 69 different statutes in its schedules.  For example, many environmentally significant laws that are administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources are proposed to be amended.  These laws include the Endangered Species Act, the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Public Lands Act, the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, and the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act.  Laws such as these are prescribed under the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 (EBR).

Normally, when the government proposes to amend legislation that is prescribed under the EBR, it would post a proposal notice on the Environmental Registry and solicit public comments for a minimum of 30 days.  The government then considers the public comments and makes a decision.  These steps help make for a transparent and accountable process.

However, budgets bills are specifically exempt from the posting and public consultation requirements of the EBR.  Moreover, the Ministry of Finance is not prescribed under the EBR either.  As a result, the public does not have the same opportunities to contribute to decision making when a number of environmentally significant laws are changed in a budget bill.

I wrote about a very similar situation in my last Annual Report regard the use of omnibus legislation: “At best, using omnibus legislation to amend environmental laws complicates the EBR process. At worst, it can obstruct the public’s right to participate in environmental decision making.”

Posted on April 2, 2012 in ECO Commentary, In the News by Environmental Commissioner of Ontario