I am writing to comment on…

I am writing to comment on the proposal to revoke the MCEA. As a professional archaeologist, I feel this change would be incredibly detrimental to the preservation of heritage sites in Ontario. The new regulation proposed would remove the need for archaeological assessments in advance of development projects, and as such, would do untold harm to sites that have yet to be discovered. When a site is destroyed, the knowledge we could learn from the past is lost, forever. This is completely unacceptable.

Additionally, revoking the MCEA would reduce consultation required with First Nations on these development projects. In a time where Canada is trying to come to terms with the acts committed against people of the First Nations and are seeking reconciliation for those actions, this is a step back that clearly ignores UNDRIP and the TRC Calls for Action.

I'm asking you to reconsider this proposal to revoke the MCEA. We cannot sacrifice the preservation of the past, the protection of the environment, or collaboration with the First Nations for short term gains and profits.