I am deeply concerned about…

I am deeply concerned about the proposed new "streamlined" EA regulations. I fear this new model does not provide sufficient protection for archaeological heritage and Ancestor burials - in both known and the many as yet unknown sites. Revoking the MCEA would leave archaeological sites, especially within municipalities without an archaeological management plan, vulnerable to disturbance and destruction.

Municipalities are dependent on consultant archaeologists to compile and deliver a Stage 1 report on the archaeological potential of a given project area and it is vital to keep this level of oversight and consideration in every building project. Once a site is ruined by construction, there is no going back. These sites are irreplaceable.

By removing the MCEA, the province would remove the current regulations that trigger archaeological assessment in advance of these development projects. In revoking the MCEA, then, the question becomes, how will municipalities ensure they are meeting their obligations under the Ontario Heritage Act?

I support the first nations who have spoken out against this proposal already. The important protocols established in UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action need to be upheld, no matter how challenging this might make things for developers.

Thank you in advance for considering my comment on this important matter. Please make sure our heritage is protected, now and in the future.