Ford government’s Bill 140 gutting Ontario’s environmental rights, experts warn
The sweeping new bill is drawing sharp warnings from environmental advocates who say it will reverse decades of progress on environmental issues.
Environmental advocates, legal experts, and political parties are expressing concern over the Ford government's proposed Bill 140, which aims to streamline regulations and reduce red tape. However, critics argue that the bill could undermine residents' ability to challenge provincial decisions affecting the environment. The Building Ontario Faster Act, introduced on October 27, seeks to expedite infrastructure projects but could reverse decades of environmental progress, leaving Ontarians more vulnerable to potential harm.
Joseph Castrilli, a lawyer at the Canadian Environmental Law Association, warns that the bill's elimination of environmental rights for 16 million Canadians would destabilize the environment and economy.
The key component of the bill is the overhaul of the Environmental Bill of Rights, which grants residents legal authority in environmental decision-making and accountability. If passed, the bill would repeal much of the Environmental Bill of Rights, including the public's ability to request environmental investigations, policy reviews, or appeal government permits.
Bill 140 would also limit the posting of environmentally significant decisions on the Environment Registry of Ontario, making it harder for residents to track government action.
Todd McCarthy, the province's environment minister, insists that the Environmental Bill of Rights is "here to stay" and that the proposed changes aim to streamline outdated processes, not eliminate them. However, municipalities, such as Oxford County, argue that the bill threatens their ability to veto landfills, a right they gained only recently.
The Ford government defends the bill's need to expand landfills due to potential U.S. tariffs, but critics counter that the economy should not come at the expense of the environment. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner asserts that Bill 140 will enable large corporations to engage in harmful practices while limiting residents' ability to voice concerns.
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