Why Contact Your Federal MP? There's Good Reason and Precendent
This Bill takes away fundamental rights of citizens to shape their communities and their futures, but it also takes away the Rights and Title of Indigenous Nations and the legal Duty to Consult Indigenous Nations on these issues.
For the general public too, it takes away our rights to know about, to comment on or to even appeal decisions in our communities. It takes away rights of our elected municipal officials to do the same.
If the federal government threatened to intervene when CUPE's rights to strike were threatened, they can do the same here.
Also, this Bill puts Nationally Endangered Species in further jeopardy. Many wetland-dependent species are on the verge of extinction. This Bill will further endanger these animals. Wetland offsetting has been proven world-wide to fail, and many species cannot acclimatize to new environments, or be reintroduced effectively. The federal government intervened when the Chorus Frog and the Caribou were put in jeopardy due to actions within a province, therefore, the federal government should intervene for the Blanding's Turtle, the Eastern Wolf, and many other species in this situation as well.
Sample Letter
To: __________
Bill 23 must be rescinded immediately. As a Member of Parliament we call on your level of government to intervene. Why? Because this Bill takes away the rights of Ontarians to shape their futures- to know about, comment on or appeal decisions made in their communities. More is that Bill 23 takes away the Rights and Title of Indigenous Nations and the Duty to Consult as ratified in the Supreme Court of Canada. This is a duty divested to the Province, and the Province is failing our Treaty Partners. This failing will also be reflected on Canada's Human Rights Record.
Bill 23 also takes away the rights and powers of our elected officials to represent us and our concerns in order to shape our communities.
This Bill instead gives ultimate power to one person to override all others in Ontario. This Bill is therefore a blight on our society and our democracy.
The federal government threatened to intervene on behalf of the CUPE teacher's union and their right to strike. The government could and should do the same here.
Bill 23 also de-lists and devalues formerly Provincially Significant Wetlands and wildlife habitat. It will diminish the values of wetlands and habitats that have not been evaluated, to result in not further protections. It redefines what a watercourse is, which will allow for headwaters and critical habitats to be destroyed. Therefore, this Bill will result in massive kills of vital wildlife; species that are already vulnerable and listed as Federally Threatened or Endangered. In fact, the Blanding's turtle population in Ontario is the largest in Canada. This federally listed Endangered species will be put in dire jeopardy because of the actions of the provincial government. The federal government intervened on behalf of the Chorus Frog and Caribou. We are appealing to the federal government to now step in on behalf of the Blanding's turtle, Queen snake, Monarch butterfly, Tri-coloured Bat, Eastern Wolf, and many other species that will be negatively affected. It has been proven around the globe that offsetting of wetland habitats simply does not work. There is no other way forward but to fight this Bill.
We would appreciate a considered response and related updates from your office, and can be reached at______________
Sincerely,
__________________
Telephone Talking Points
As a Member of Parliament we call on your level of government to intervene. Why? Because this Bill takes away the rights of Ontarians to shape their futures- to know about, comment on or appeal decisions made in their communities.
- Bill 23 does not honour the Duty to Consult our Indigenous Treaty Partners and therefore takes away the Rights and Title of Indigenous Nations. Another heinous act in the face of so many that have come to light.
- This Bill takes away the rights and powers of our elected officials to represent us and our concerns in order to shape our communities.
- This Bill instead gives ultimate power to one person to override all others in Ontario. This Bill is therefore a blight on our society and our democracy.
- The federal government threatened to intervene on behalf of the CUPE teacher's union and their right to strike. The government could and should do the same here.
- Bill 23 also de-lists and devalues formerly Provincially Significant Wetlands and wildlife habitat. It will diminish the values of wetlands and habitats that have not been evaluated, to result in no further protections. It redefines what a watercourse is, which will allow for headwaters and critical fish and wildlife habitats to be destroyed. Therefore, this Bill will result in massive kills of vital wildlife; species that are already vulnerable and listed as Federally Threatened or Endangered.
- In fact, the Blanding's turtle population in Ontario is the largest in Canada. This federally listed Endangered species will be put in dire jeopardy because of the actions of the provincial government.
- The federal government intervened on behalf of the Chorus Frog and Caribou.
- We are appealing to the federal government to now step in on behalf of the Blanding's turtle, Queen snake, Monarch butterfly, Tri-coloured Bat, Eastern Wolf, and many other species that will be negatively affected. It has been proven around the globe that offsetting of wetland habitats simply does not work. There is no other way forward but to fight this Bill.
Member of Parliament (MP) Contact Information
Use the drop down boxes below to find your Member of Parliament (MP) based on what region you live in. MPs have two phone numbers, one for their constituency office and one for their legislative office. The legislative office phone number is labeled as HOC (House of Commons) in the drop downs below. We recommend calling both phone numbers if you are going to call your MP. You can use the same talking points for both phone calls.