We should all be aware by now, that a healthy environment is found at the nexus of ecological and economic systems. The Greek word “ecos” meaning “home” is the root of both ecology and economy, and the “nexus” is the point where they come into balance.
Imagine a teeter-totter in perfect balance, both kids suspended peacefully in the air. on one side sits Ecology, the child who understands how all the natural systems of Earth web and flow; on the other side is Economy, the child who understands how all the resources of those systems are utilized. Working cooperatively and in consensus, the teeter-totter remains beautifully balanced.
However, should the Economy child start to gobble up the resources of the Ecology child too quickly and get obese on its richness, he will crash to the ground. On the other side, the Ecology child will get thrown off. She will be injured and angry. It will take a long time for the children to recover the balance point.
Almost every one of the Ontario Provincial government’s recent bills have been fattening up the Economy. This has been happening in municipal governments as well. We are not Protecting Ontario from the teeter-totter collapsing if we exempt “economic zones” from environmental oversight. We are not protecting the balance point if our Municipal governments pass special By-laws to allow the destruction of rehabilitated greenspaces.
There will be a reckoning. It will come in the form of a forensic audit that will expose all the waste, graft and greed of private contracts and developer influence that has infected the politics of our communities. Some may try to take the money and run. But when the teeter-totter hits the ground, there will be a lot of people looking for accountability and justice.
Keep an eye on Ontario’s upcoming municipal elections as a bellwether. If you see skunks changing their stripes, or rats leaving the ship, you’ll know something is coming. Politicians who introduced legislation detrimental to environmental security who now start waving their ‘green flags” should be the first to go. Politicians who restricted the voices of democracy who now start touting public participation should be next in the exit strategy.
From the Ring of Fire to Swan Lake, from Ontario Place spa makeovers to Billy Bishop Airport private jet runways, from deteriorating Ontario Science Centre myths to stalled Caledon East housing construction projects, from a still unapproved 413 highway to a still unplanned tunnel under the 401, from secret ministerial cell phone records to unaccountable municipal payouts to Strong Mayor staff, the list goes on.
On May 12, 2026, the Auditor General of Ontario is issuing four special reports. Karma has a long list. Patience is a virtue, and the nexus will come. The way I see it.