The Peterborough Greenspace Coalition responds to City report to MOECC
In February, 2016 the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) ordered the City of Peterborough to provide more information on the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process used to decide on the future of the Parkway extension. The Minister indicated his staff needed more information in order to understand the city’s decision making process (especially as it pertained to the section through/around Jackson Park) and reasoning to help decide whether or not to order a fuller EA. The Minister also recognized that two years had passed since the original “bump up” requests were submitted and wanted the City to identify any relevant changes to the planning context of the Parkway proposal. In April 2014, as part of the EA process, the PGC had joined with 87 citizens and asked for a bump up for this Class EA on the grounds that, not only was the Parkway unnecessary, but the process did not adhere to sound planning and environmental assessment principles.
On April 4, 2016, the City sent a response to MOECC without scrutiny or discussion by Council. The City response is deep within the City website.
Coalition volunteers spent weeks reading and responding to the City’s submission to the Minister’s order and sent their response to the Minister on April 27. The PGC document provides a very different perspective to that of the City on changes to the planning context. In short, the new Provincial Policy Statement (2014) highlights the need to address intensification, non-auto transportation and climate change in municipal decision making. We also now understand that the Millennial generation is driving significantly less than the rest of us – this is important for transportation planning. The PGC submission also directly highlights many problematic aspects of the City’s response and goes on to make an even more compelling case for Bump Up than what was submitted by the coalition in April 2014.
If you agree and want to see a more balanced review of the Parkway proposals, write or email both Minister Murray and our local MPP, Jeff Leal.
Hon. Glen Murray, Minister MOECC
2nd Floor, Macdonald Block
M2-22 – 900 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1N3
gmurray.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Hon. Jeff Leal, Minister OMAFRA
MPP, Peterborough
236 King Street,
Peterborough, ON K9J 7L8
jleal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Please consider sending us a copy of your letter. We like to know what people are thinking and you come up with some pretty amazing points. petbogreencoalition@gmail.com
Thank you for your commitment to a green, walkable, cycleable, transit-friendly, engaged & sustainable Peterborough!
