OUTLOOK Ontario’s imperiled wild places BY PATRICK WALSH

Bad development

IN MID-NOVEMBER, I was heartened by a press statement from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) regarding Ontario’s controversial Bill 23. Tabled in late October by Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government, the More Homes Built Faster Act is ostensibly designed to address the province’s housing crunch by speeding up approvals to build new homes. That it certainly does, but it also stands to imperil the environment in the process.

Among its many provisions, Bill 23 would strip local conservation authorities of their oversight powers, allow the sale of conservation lands, and remove protections for wetlands, forests and farmland. It would also diminish municipal standards for building energy-efficient homes. In effect, the bill would allow for eco-unfriendly development in southern Ontario’s diminishing green spaces.

So, when OFAH issued a statement from executive director Angelo Lombardo calling for a pause on Bill 23, I was in complete agreement. In short, he urged the government to take more time “to do their due diligence and review all relevant evidence and public comments with the critical analysis and debate that it deserves.” According to the statement, OFAH was also conducting a critical review of the bill,

Less than a week later came the bombshell that Ontario would allow housing on almost 3,000 hectares of the environmentally sensitive Greenbelt straddling the Greater Toronto Area—this after the premier promised that would never happen. Then came news that properties in eight of the 15 areas removed from the Greenbelt were purchased by developers after Ford first came to power four years ago.

It’s clear the premier is no friend of the environment. He’s closed the office of the Environmental Commissioner, fired the province’s chief scientist and killed Ontario’s programs to fight climate change. But Bill 23, coupled with opening the Greenbelt to development, brings us to a whole new level. The legislation is a clear attack on our woods and waters, and it should now be shelved completely—not merely paused. The future of southern Ontario’s wild places demands no less. OC

CONTRIBUTORS

A long-time multispecies bowhunter, Ardrossan, Alberta’s Brad Fenson frequently travels across North America and the world on his hunting adventures. And over the years, he’s learned a lot about keeping his gear safe while en route. On page 26, he offers tips on how to pick the right bow case for your travels. When he’s not enjoying the outdoors with his young family or his students, Toronto outdoor ed teacher Craig Mitchell is often planning his next hunting adventure, or indulging his passion for outdoor history. In “Gangster getaway” starting on page 54, he digs into the curious criminal past of Ontario’s Lake Erie Fishing Club. A former commerical fisherman, Saint John, New Brunswick’s Zac Kurylyk now works full-time as a freelancer writer. In this issue’s “Homage” (page 66), the ardent angler, hunter and motocycle rider shares his thoughts on an iconic piece of outdoor apparel for cold-weather pursuits—the dark- green woolly pully. In this issue’s “Fair Game” guest opinion column (page 22), Vancouver Island freelance writer Ryan Stuart argues why it’s time to rethink how salmon hatcheries are run on the Pacific coast. An avid angler and paddler, his articles have appeared in various outdoor publications, including Outside and and Ski Canada.

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