Protect Public Participation – Amend Bill 185
Join us in taking action to amend Bill 185, which threatens to take away residents’ right to oppose harmful projects like pits and quarries.
Scroll down to join our Week of Actions to Amend Bill 185!
Bill 66 (2018). Bill 23 (2022). And now Bill 185…
Time and again, the Ford government has tried to strip residents and community groups of their right to appeal land use and planning decisions at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). The intention remains the same—to cut the public out of decision-making regarding projects that affect our lives and the environment, such as harmful and unnecessary gravel pits and quarries.
Each time, Ontario residents have risen up to successfully defend public appeal rights, which are essential to protecting public interests like healthy air and clean water. And yet this Zombie policy keeps coming back.
Omnibus Bill 185, introduced to the Ontario legislature on April 10 along with the proposed Provincial Planning Statement, is Ford’s latest attempt to severely erode local democracy by essentially making the OLT a developers’ only tribunal, and handing the future planning of our communities over to the development sector and the non-elected.
Unfortunately for Ford, we're experienced zombie fighters, and we’re prepared to stop this undead policy in its tracks—with your help!
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Zombie Zap: Week of Actions to Amend Bill 185Please take an action a day for the next week to push back against Bill 185. |
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| Thursday 4/18 | Send this one-click letter today to Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, your local MPP, and the Environmental Registry of Ontario (we have until May 10th to submit ERO comments). |
| Friday 4/19 | Click here to RSVP for our Zombie Phone Zap to Amend Bill 185, taking place at noon from Monday 4/22 to Wednesday 4/24. |
| Saturday, 4/20 | Share the one-click letter with friends, family, neighbours, and community groups, and on social media. Use hashtags #AmendBill185 and #ProtectPublicParticipation. |
| Sunday, 4/21 | Share the RSVP link for our Zombie Phone Zap to Amend Bill 185 with friends, family, neighbours, community groups, and on social media. Use hashtags #AmendBill185 and #ProtectPublicParticipation. |
| Monday, 4/22 | Zombie Phone Zap Day 1. Use our simple call-in tool to call policymakers at noon. |
| Tuesday, 4/23 | Zombie Phone Zap Day 2. Use our simple call-in tool to call policymakers at noon. |
| Wednesday, 4/24 |
Zombie Phone Zap Day 3. Use our simple call-in tool to call policymakers at noon. |
| Thursday, 4/25 | Join our virtual rally! Post a photo of yourself holding a sign with a creative message to demand policymakers Amend Bill 185 and Protect Public Participation. Share your photo on social media. Tag RGMC on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and share to the RGMC Community on Facebook. |
For more information, read this memo written by environmental lawyer David Donnelly, and check out this statement from Environmental Defence.
Thank you for helping us to zap this zombie policy and preserve the public’s right to participate in decisions that affect our communities!