Some clarification from North Bay City Council regarding contentious environmental issues which drew public scrutiny at the last regular meeting.
North Bay City Councillor Mac Bain has released a statement, saying he “did not adequately explain what we were trying to accomplish with the resolutions.”
The resolutions Bain is referring to are motions pertaining to the loosening of environmental regulations to facilitate development. “I have to apologize for how I rolled out the two resolutions last week for Provincially Significant Wetlands and the Species at Risk Act,” says Bain in the statement.
Bain says the original motions will be withdrawn with two new motions to be tabled that include public consultation.
“We would like the Province to amend Figure 1 in the Provincial Policy Statement to recognize the former delineation of Northern Ontario (French River). The City could then use the flexibility currently in the Provincial Policy Statement to allow minimal development in a wetland, where it is demonstrated that there would be no negative impacts on the natural features or ecological functions of the Provincially Significant Wetland.”
Bain adds several decades ago, the “Province recognized Northern Ontario as everything north of the French River. That is what we are suggesting the Province consider. So we are asking that the Province move the line back, so we would have the same Northern Ontario rules as the balance of the North. I did not clearly articulate that the City of North Bay implemented the requested policy in the past, in a manner that demonstrated no net loss to the natural features or ecological features of the PSS. This policy was used sparingly, but when used, it was agreed to by local community groups and regulatory authorities that the tests to ensure no negative impacts on the natural features or ecological functions were met.
“With regard to the Species at Risk, the Province has started a review of the Act. We would like council to provide input to the review after consulting with the community. The main issue is that Species at Risk is in the Planning Act so Municipalities can approve a development today that can move a Species Habitat. But the Ministry of Natural Resources also has jurisdiction under the Species at Risk Act. There have been times when the MNR has stopped development without, communicating with us on our Planning Process. So I would like jurisdiction to be clarified so to aid development, and so it happens responsibly.”
At the regular meeting Tuesday, Bain will withdraw the original motions. Councillor Mark King had given notices of reconsideration on each and several members of a group that helped to fill Council Chambers at the last meeting to voice their opposition to the motions have said they will return.
