{"id":422465,"date":"2021-12-07T21:35:59","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T21:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/environmentaldefence.ca\/?p=31935"},"modified":"2021-12-07T21:35:59","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T21:35:59","slug":"ontario-auditor-generals-environment-audits-reveal-a-government-thats-abandoned-its-obligation-to-protect-the-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/12\/07\/ontario-auditor-generals-environment-audits-reveal-a-government-thats-abandoned-its-obligation-to-protect-the-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario Auditor General\u2019s Environment Audits Reveal a Government That\u2019s Abandoned Its Obligation to Protect the Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If the government of Ontario hoped that abolishing the Environment Commissioner, and transferring the position\u2019s responsibilities to the Auditor General would free it from accountability on climate change, wilderness conservation, pollution and species at risk protection, it must surely be disappointed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the Auditor General is typically reticent about the <\/span>intentions <\/span><\/i>of government, a government\u2019s intentions can be discerned from its actions, and her November 22nd\u00a0 \u201cEnvironment Audits\u201d revealed a government with no real interest in protecting endangered species,\u00a0 no real interest in reducing the number of hazardous spills,\u00a0 no real interest in ensuring that recyclable materials don\u2019t go into landfill \u2013 and no genuine intention to reduce the province\u2019s carbon emissions as promised in its Environment Plan or at the rapid pace needed to avoid runaway climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the highlights from the Ontario Auditor General’s Environmental Reports \u2013 which can also be called the Ontario government’s lowlights.<\/p>\n

ENDANGERED SPECIES<\/h3>\n
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The blanding’s turtle is one of Ontario’s endangered species<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On <\/span>endangered species, the Auditor General found that the government has increased the number of permits approved that allow harm to endangered species and destroy their habitat by more than 6000%,<\/strong> issuing them, for the most part, automatically, without any attempt to verify they won\u2019t further harm or even extirpate species entirely.\u00a0 Separately, the committee that confers protected status on species at risk is now dominated by members who work for industry associations and companies. It seems unlikely that any government that prioritizes the survival of species at risk\u00a0 would put a highway project management company employee in the position to decide which species at risk will be protected. That\u2019s especially true when it is potential impacts on endangered species that could determine the fate of multi-billion dollar highway contracts.<\/span><\/p>\n

HAZARDOUS SPILLS<\/h3>\n
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Industrial pipe discharging liquid waste<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On <\/span>hazardous spills, the Auditor General found that the government just isn\u2019t putting in place sufficient regulations to reduce the main sources of hazardous spills, such as natural gas pipelines and fuel tanks, but that it is also failing even to enforce the regulations that do exist. Examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n