QUEEN’S PARK – During committee hearings on Bill 132 Tuesday, Conservative MPPs voted against NDP efforts to block the loosening of environmental regulations and less protection for clean water.
At the Standing Committee on General Government, Ford government MPPs voted against repealing Schedule 9, which significantly lowers administrative penalties for violating the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act. For example, under these changes the maximum penalty for the recent 24 billion litre sewage spill in Hamilton would go from $6 million to only $200,000.
“It’s irresponsible to see that in the face of environmental disasters like the spill in Hamilton and in the midst of the climate crisis, the Conservative government is ramming through lower environmental penalties and fewer protections for source water,” said Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife, the NDP’s lead critic on the bill. “Not only are these moves bad for the environment, but the cost of inaction on climate change threatens our future economy.
“Members from all parties heard over and over again at committee hearings that these changes will endanger our collective future. Without meaningful action by the Ford government, our environment won’t be protected for future generations.”