DAMNING AG REPORT ACCUSES MPP SMITH’S MNR OFFICE OF DOWNPLAYING ECO IMPACTS OF BILL FOR ‘PARTISAN POLITICAL PURPOSES’

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — While MPP Graydon Smith was busy announcing his “Griswolds” Christmas awards last week, his ministry was being was singled out in four of the six violations of the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights.

Ontario Greens Deputy Leader Matt Richter released the following statement in response to the Auditor General’s 2024 annual report regarding the Minister of Natural Resources in “failure to comply with the Environmental Bill of Rights.

‘It’s deeply troubling that our local representative, Minister Graydon Smith, was singled out in four of the six violations of the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights,” says the local Parry Sound Greens candidate.

He said Smith’s MNR led all ministries with the highest number of outdated consultation notices with nearly two thirds of all outdated consultations.

MPP Graydon Smith introduced his “Griswold Awards” last week, inspired by the movie ‘Christmas Vacation.’ He said the awards will help recognize someone who’s gone above and beyond decorating their house, “just like Clark did creating his masterpiece in the movie.” Photo Graydon Smith’s office

In the Audit of the Environmental Bill of Rights, Smith’s office was found to have; misrepresented or downplayed the environmental impacts of proposed legislation for partisan political purposes (5.3.1); purposefully missed reporting deadlines for investigations (5.2.3, 5.2.4); deceived the public about the consultation process and deadlines and was unable to show how public comments were incorporated into legislation (5.1.1).

‘It gives the perception that the government is either wilfully ignorant of the rules, or is intentionally trying to hide information from the people they represent.’ says Richter.

The Auditor General also noted that the Ford government spent over $103 million taxpayer dollars on ads, more than any other government in history and more than 60% of that being deemed partisan spending.

“This shows that the government is more interested in looking out for themselves than they are in looking out for you,” says Richter.

The full Auditor General’s Report can be found at https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arbyyear/ar2024.html

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