Background Information on Bill 197
As Ontario prepared to move into Phase 3 of reopening, the government introduced Bill 197, the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020. This omnibus bill, which passed on July 21, proposes to stimulate economic growth by amending 20 existing pieces of legislation, including the environmental assessment (EA) process, in an attempt to expedite development.
After Ontario’s Attorney General noted that Bill 197 did not comply with public consultation requirements under the Environmental Bill of Rights, criticism is mounting on the Ford government’s cavalier action in fast-tracking the COVID-19 Recovery Act, and the provisions that compromise the EA process. There is currently a legal challenge to this bill by a coalition of environmental groups, who have grave concerns that by treating environmental protections as “so much red tape”, this government is clearing the path for rampant development with no environmental oversight and using the COVID crisis to help further that objective. The Chiefs of Ontario are also considering similar legal action.
GBA strongly opposes the changes to the EA process in this bill and is working with our partners on potential next steps.
Additional Resources
- Bill 197, COVID-19 Recovery Act, 2020
- Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
- CELA Media Release – July 13, 2020
- Additional Background on CELA Media Release – July 13, 2020
- The EA is Not Red Tape, the Case Against Ontario Bill 197 – July 13, 2020
- Exemption of Forestry From the Environmental Assessment Act Sets a Bad Precedent – July 13, 2020
- Preliminary Analysis of Schedule 4 of Bill 197 – July 10, 2020
- Preliminary Analysis of Schedule 6 of Bill 197 – July 10, 2020
- Ecojustice
- Gowling WLG
- Ontario Nature
- National Observer