QUEEN’S PARK – MPP for Guelph, Mike Schreiner, released the following statement in response to the Auditor General’s Annual Report.
“Today’s AG report lays bare the Premier’s government’s risky and reckless disregard for our livelihoods, properties and finances.
There are no plans to address the climate crisis and flooding risks, no plans to protect the Niagara Escarpment, no plans to rehabilitate oil and gas wells, no plans to address invasive species.
Instead of prioritizing protecting Ontarians, the Premier’s government is building highways like the 413 and Bradford Bypass against the judgement of their own Ministry experts. It’s clear that the Premier’s highways are driven by politics, not by fiscally responsible planning.
At a time when flood risk is increasing, the Premier’s government is weakening conservation authorities, and gutting already weak wetland protections all in the name of an expensive pro-sprawl agenda.
Recent FAO reports show that climate fueled extreme weather is going to cost us $6 billion this decade and $116 billion this century in extra costs to public buildings. And adapting public transportation infrastructure will add between $110 billion to $229 billion to infrastructure costs by 2100.
Yet this government seemingly has no plans to adapt or mitigate these costs. Instead, they are ploughing ahead with paving over wetlands and the Greenbelt.
How many more times does the Premier’s government need to be warned that they are setting Ontarians up for fiscal and environmental failure?”