Some Good News — Environmental Bill of Rights Back in Effect

The Government of Ontario has decided to restore the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1994 (EBR), effective June 15, 2020. This is a big win for the environment. Ontario had previously suspended the key conditions of the EBR in early April. The suspension worked to eliminate public awareness of ongoing projects and the right to weigh in on environmentally significant decisions using the Environmental Registry.

This would be detrimental to those working towards greener practices. 

In a coalition with some 50 civil society organizations, led by the Canadian Environmental Law Association, SCCF co-signed a letter that helped raise concerns about the suspension's harmful repercussions and ask for its immediate repeal.

In a Request for Review filed by Ecojustice, on behalf of the former Environmental Commissioner Gordon Miller and Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, it was stated that the removal of the legal obligation for ministries to take the publics’ comments regarding environmental regulation into consideration, undermined government transparency and the overall accountability for decisions that may have significant impacts on the environment.

Read the full letter here.

We are happy to announce that the Province has decided to revoke this decision and restore the EBR. This is great news. We are proud to stand with like-minded organizations working to strengthen Canadian’s environmental rights and the health of the environment.

Thank you everyone who voiced their support for the EBR and the call to action.

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