MPP Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas) is urging Doug Ford to listen to the voices of Ontarians, and reverse his shameless attempt to gut local conservation authorities, that will put the province’s environment in the hands of his powerful developer friends.
Shaw says Hamilton’s precious wetlands, climate and forests are under threat, putting communities at more risk of flooding and destroying the natural environment for future generations. “Hamiltonians and people across this province are speaking out loudly and clearly against Doug Ford’s plans to let his developer friends destroy our environment. We have a duty to protect our communities, and to preserve our precious natural environment” said Shaw.
This weekend David Crombie, chair of the Greenbelt Council, and six of its members, resigned in protest against the Ford government’s pushing through changes to the Conservation Authorities Act in the budget omnibus bill, calling it a “high level bombing” of our environment.
“By passing this legislation the Ford government has shown it will prioritize profit over both people and our planet. Rather than provide real supports for housing, small businesses, seniors in long term care and frontline workers, this government chose to use their budget to make it easier to sell off our natural areas” said Shaw.
Shaw noted that local PC MPP Donna Skelly followed Doug Ford’s lead, and voted Tuesday to support his plans to gut conservation authorities. Shaw says Hamiltonians have had enough of Doug Ford’s reckless attacks on science and our environment, and are demanding he start listening to them, and to experts, instead of developers and wealthy insiders.
“Developers stand to rake in millions at the expense of our irreplaceable environment, and it is families here in Hamilton that will suffer the consequences. We’re already seeing more flooding, more contamination of our water and more air pollution, that puts lives at risk and destroy what makes our province so special – leaving our children and grandchildren to pick up the pieces. It’s never too late to reverse course, but time is running out. If Doug Ford doesn’t listen now, we may never be able to repair the damage.”