Ontario is proposing to streamline 13 natural-resource permits and approvals to speed up development, prompting concerns from environmental advocates about the potential loss of ecological oversight and cumulative impacts on wildlife and habitats.
TORONTO 鈥 Ontario is promising to cut red tape, a move it says will strengthen the province鈥檚 economy by making it easier to build mines, infrastructure and other projects by stripping away administrative hurdles surrounding natural-resource permits.
The government estimates changes to 13 permits and approvals will save proponents roughly 12,715 days of administrative burden every year. But there鈥檚 another number worth considering: how much ecological information is being removed from the process, and what might that cost?
Announced August 5, the changes target fish and wildlife, forestry and public-land approvals. Ontario says the reforms focus on 鈥渓ow-risk,鈥 routine activities and insists protections will stay intact even as hundreds of permits get lighter requirements and faster approvals. The province is seeking public and Indigenous feedback until September 21.
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