I am writing not just as a…

I am writing not just as a concerned Ontarian, but as someone who believes in the value of responsible leadership, respect for Indigenous rights, and the protection of the natural world we all depend on. I would like to express my deep concern, anger, and disappointment over the introduction of Bill 5 — the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025.”

This legislation is a blatant attack on environmental protections, Indigenous rights, and public participation in decision-making.

It is appalling that in 2025, Ontario would even consider repealing the Endangered Species Act - a piece of legislation based on environmental science - and replacing it with a watered-down “Species Conservation Act” that prioritizes development over biodiversity and the beautiful diverse ecosystem of our province.

Schedule 10 of this Bill represents an unprecedented and dangerous rollback of habitat protections, essentially redefining “habitat” so narrowly that it offers little to no real safeguard for Ontario’s at-risk species.

The discretionary powers it introduces open the door to political interference and the abandonment of evidence-based conservation.

Worse still, the creation of “Special Economic Zones” — law-free zones in all but name — gives Cabinet the unchecked authority to override essential environmental protections. This undermines transparency, accountability, and our province’s constitutional obligations to consult and accommodate Indigenous communities.

This Bill guts environmental assessments, fast-tracks destructive industrial projects, and silences local voices. It prioritizes short-term corporate profit over the long-term health of Ontario’s people, land, water, and wildlife.

As your constituent, I am asking you in the strongest possible terms to oppose this legislation. Stand up for environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and democratic process. There is no evidence that weakening environmental protections benefits Ontarians — only that it benefits a handful of corporate interests in the short term. The cost of inaction is too high — not just for our generation, but for all those who come after us.

Ontario deserves leadership that honors science, democratic process, and our shared responsibility to future generations.