Ontario Bill-66
On December 6, 2018 the Government of Ontario introduced Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act (“Bill 66”)
Bill 66 is an omnibus bill that would affect at least 15 pieces of various legislation including farming, daycares, private career colleges, wireless and changes allowing development to by-pass Ontario’s major environmental protections.
Planning Act [Schedule 10]
In reference to the Planning Act specifically, impacts would include adding a new section 34.1, which would allow local municipalities to pass “open-for-business” planning by-laws. With approval from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, open-for-business planning by-laws would by-pass:
· Clean Water Act, 2006.
· Great Lakes Protection Act, 2015.
· Greenbelt Act, 2005. (AO Info – Greenbelt)
· Lake Simcoe Protection Act, 2008.
· Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Act, 2001.
· Places to Grow Act, 2005.
· Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016.
Bill 66 also proposes to repeal the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009. This change would undermine transparency and accountability by eliminating industry obligations to report publicly on their uses of toxic substances and to identify options to reduce those substances through toxic reduction plans. (source) [Schedule 5]
The Ford government introduced Bill 66 and then abruptly ended the fall sitting of the legislature a week ahead of schedule. The legislature is set to resume February 19, 2019. (article)
The "open-for-business" planning aspects of Bill 66 would negate four decades of work by groups and individuals who fought for Ontario's current environmental protections.
What Can YOU Do?
You can comment until January 21, 2019 on the environmental aspects of Bill 66 on Ontario’s Environmental Registry (ero.ontario.ca).
Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) Summary
013-4293 Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018 (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)
013-4125 Proposed open-for-business planning tool (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)
013-4239 New Regulation under the Planning Act for open-for-business planning tool (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)
013-4234 Repeal the Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 and all associated regulations by December 31, 2021 (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)
013-4235 Planning and reporting changes under the toxics reduction program and Ontario Regulation 455/09 (6-Dec-2018 to 21-Jan-2019)
UPDATE: On January 23, 2019, after a huge public outcry including municipalities that resolved not to use the new tool, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, tweeted that the government "will not proceed with Schedule 10 of the Bill".
Wireless
According to OpenMedia.org, the CRTC’s federal Wireless Code of Conduct fails to provide many important protections and is considered to be toothless. That’s why many provinces have made their own laws to complement this code of conduct, including Quebec, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia.
The Ontario Wireless Services Agreements Act improves on the CRTC code by:
• Requiring that cell phone ads show the all-inclusive minimum monthly service charge for plans and that contracts be written in plain and understandable language,
• Capping cancellation fees for contracts and requiring that customers consent to changes to the terms of service,
• Imposing fines of up to $250,000 for violations by cell phone providers and giving customers the ability to launch class-action lawsuits to hold companies accountable.
“Bill 66 threatens to scrap all these key protections, giving Big Telecom way too much power. That’s why we need to call on Minister Todd Smith to keep the campaign promises of his party and stand up for the people by scrapping Bill 66.” Rodrigo at OpenMedia
Other Concerns
According to the Council of Canadians, Bill 66 would result in:
– Employees working significant amounts of overtime without
pay.
– Lower wages for unionized construction workers
in many sectors of the economy.
– Daycares with more children and fewer staff to
look after them.
– Less qualified caregivers in public schools
and daycares.
– Less protection from dishonest business
practices by wireless companies.
– Long term care homes being operated by
companies with no experience and with less oversight.
– Less protection for drinking water sources.
– More urban sprawl and poorly conceived development.
Link to Global News Bill 66 will scrap electricity rate protection for 325,000 Ontarians
Link to Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) analysis (.pdf)
Link to Council of Canadians petition
You can contact your MPP and/or contact Premier Ford directly.
Bill 66 Timeline (chronological order)
|
Date |
Event |
|
2018-12-06 |
Bill 66 first reading. Ontario government legislature rises (one week early) scheduled to resume on February 19, 2019. |
|
2019-01-14 |
|
|
|
|
|
2019-01-20 |
North Dufferin Agricultural & Community Taskforce (NDACT) comment (.pdf) submitted to government |
|
2019-01-20 |
Ontario Greenbelt Alliance (OGA) comment (.pdf) submitted to government |
|
2019-01-20 |
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) comment (.pdf) submitted to government |
|
2019-01-21 |
Deadline for public comments: ERO 013 4125, 4234, 4235, 4239, 4293. |
|
2019-01-23 |
Tweet |
|
2019-02-02 |
NDACT hosted event “Protect Our Greenbelt – from Bill 66” / Guelph Mercury |
|
2019-02-19 |
Legislature scheduled to resume on February 19, 2019 |
|
Pending |
Bill to be debated by MPPs in second reading, reviewed by committee, reported with any amendments, third reading, royal assent (How an Ontario Bill Becomes Law (.pdf) |
NEWS (reverse chronological order)
|
Date |
Source |
Title |
Comment |
|
2019-02-04 |
Guelph Today |
“Architect of the Greenbelt” warns the fight isn’t over (4 photos) |
Tony Saxon |
|
2019-01-23 |
Globe and Mail |
Ontario reverses course on bill that could have opened Greenbelt for development |
Jeff Gray |
|
2019-01-23 |
Huffington Post |
Ontario Ditches Plan That Could Open Greenbelt To Development |
Shawn Jeffords |
|
2019-01-23 |
|
ON Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing Steve Clark tweeted that Schedule 10 is out Bill66 (.jpg) |
[policy by tweet] |
|
2019-01-23 |
MyKawartha.com / Peterborough This Week |
New law would only benefit developers and speculators - not farmers |
Dave Cavanagh |
|
2019-01-23 |
OurWindsor.ca /Toronto Star |
Agriculture group fears Ford government mounting 'direct attack' on family farms |
Rob Ferguson |
|
2019-01-22 |
Global News |
Doug Ford scrapping rate protection for more than 325,000 Ontario hydro customers |
Brian Hill, Jamie Mauracher - hydro rates |
|
2019-01-21 |
Orangeville.com |
‘Paramount concern’: Orangeville council votes unanimously to reject Bill 66 |
Chris Halliday |
|
2019-01-16 |
Save the North Gwillimbury Forest |
Town of Georgina asks Ontario to withdraw Bill 66’s Schedule 10 |
Jack Gibbons |
|
2019-01-15 |
Collingwood Today |
Jessica Owen |
|
|
2019-01-15 |
Guelph Today |
Tony Saxon |
|
|
2019-01-15 |
BarrieToday.com |
LETTER: Let’s talk employment and the real purpose of Bill 66 |
Adam Ballah, Margaret Prophet Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition |
|
2019-01-11 |
TheRecord.com |
James Akeroyd, Waterloo |
|
|
2019-01-11 |
TheRecord.com |
James Jackson |
|
|
2019-01-08 |
Guelph Today |
Taskforce takes issue with Ford government’s attempt to develop Greenbelt |
North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) |
|
2019-01-07 |
Brantford Expositor |
Vincent Ball |
|
|
2019-01-04 |
National Observer |
Ontario environment watchdogs say Doug Ford just gutted a law that protects your rights |
Fatima Syed |
|
2019-01-03 |
Shelburne Free Press |
NDACT: “Stopping Bill 66 is as important as stopping Mega Quarry” |
Marni Walsh |
|
2019-01-03 |
Orangeville.com |
Alexandra Heck |
|
|
2019-01-02 |
Farms.com |
Lauren Arva |
|
|
2018-12-31 |
NDACT |
NORTH DUFFERIN AGRICULTURAL AND COMMUNITY TASKFORCE SUBMISSION – BILL 66 (.pdf) |
Karren Wallace
|
|
2018-12-24 |
Orangeville.com / Caledon Enterprise |
Dr. Anne Bell, Ontario Nature |
|
|
2018-12-20 |
GuelphMercuryTribune.ca |
Public pressure will determine if Ford makes another Greenbelt U-turn |
Mike Schreiner |
|
2018-12-19 |
TheRecord.com |
- Waterloo Federation of Agriculture - Smart Growth Waterloo Region - Hold the Line |
|
|
2018-12-10 |
Mobilesyrup.com |
Experts split on Ontario’s Bill 66’s aim to repeal Wireless Services Agreement Act |
Shruti Shekar |
|
2018-12-10 |
Ecojustice.ca |
Premier Doug Ford dismantles Ontario’s environmental protections – and what you can do about it |
Dr. Elaine MacDonald, Bronwyn Roe, Ian Miron |
|
2018-12-09 |
TheStar.com |
Jennifer Pagliaro |
|
|
2018-12-08 |
North99.org |
Fact Check: Ford’s Proposed Legislation Will Open The Greenbelt to Private Developers |
|
|
2018-12-07 |
TheStar.com |
Environmentalists fear provincial changes mean Greenbelt is open for development |
Tess Kalinowski |
|
2018-12-07 |
Globe and Mail |
Jeff Gray |
|
|
2018-12-07 |
TheStar.com |
That ‘red tape’ Ford is cutting? It was meant to protect the environment, workers, lives |
Edward Keenan |
|
2018-12-06 |
Mobilesyrup.com |
Ontario’s Bill 66 aims to scrap Wireless Services Agreements Act |
Shruti Shekar - Wireless Services Agreements Act, 2013 |
|
2018-12-06 |
TheStar.com |
New bill aims to reduce red tape for business, says Ford government |
Kristin Rushowy |
|
2018-12-06 |
Global News |
Ontario legislature rising a week ahead of schedule for winter break |
Nicole Thompson |
For more information:
Return to AWARE-Ontario.ca Home Page
List of Ontario’s Issues
Disclaimer: This information has been compiled through private amateur research for the purpose of allowing the reader to make an informed and educated decision. However, while the information is believed to be reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
TWEETS
Ontario gov’t proposing “open-for-business” planning to bypass Clean Water Act, Great Lakes Protection Act, Greenbelt, Lake Simcoe Protection, Oak Ridges Moraine & Places to Grow thru Bill 66 “Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018” #ONpoli #ProtectOurWater #ProtectPrimeFarmland #GrowOurGB #StandForForests #FoodAndWaterFirst
Among lengthy list of proposed amendments Bill 66 would repeal Toxics Reduction Act, 2009 in 2021 #ONpoli #ProtectOurWater #ProtectPrimeFarmland #GrowOurGB #StandForForests #FoodAndWaterFirst
Environmental Defence (@EnviroDefense) press release re: “open-for-business” Bill 66 #ONpoli
#ProtectOurWater #ProtectPrimeFarmland #Greenbelt #GrowOurGB #StandForForests #FoodAndWaterFirst
https://mobilesyrup.com/2018/12/06/ontario-bill-66-wireless-services-agreement-act/
APPENDIX C
RESPONSES
e-mail from Andrea Khanjinco, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil