Proposed Bill 5, "Protecting…

Proposed Bill 5, "Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act," is not just a misleading title, it’s a calculated smokescreen, in fact, the devil’s in the detail. Split into ten separate schedules with clashing ERO numbers and rammed through under a rushed 30-day consultation, this fragmented approach is a textbook case of regulatory sleight-of-hand. It’s designed to overwhelm, confuse, and silence public and expert voices. Just like the Greenbelt grab, it reeks of a developer-first agenda—fast-tracking sprawl while gutting environmental safeguards. What’s at stake isn’t just process, but principle: the deliberate dismantling of protections and leaving the public with little to no recourse.

This Schedule makes major changes to how mining is managed in Ontario, especially when it comes to protecting what the government calls the “strategic national mineral supply chain”—basically, making sure important minerals (like those used in batteries or electronics) are controlled and prioritized.
In short:
These changes hand the Ontario government sweeping, unchecked power over who can access and exploit the province’s mineral resources—especially critical minerals. Framed as an effort to "strengthen the economy while protecting the environment," the reality tells a different story. The sole focus is economic gain, while environmental protection is treated as a vague afterthought—offered in rhetoric but nowhere in substance. The government can override existing rights, cancel claims, and fast-track industrial projects without public oversight. Legal pathways to challenge these decisions are being wiped out, silencing landowners, Indigenous nations, and environmental defenders. This is not a balanced policy—it’s a blatant power grab that prioritizes profit over people, land, and future generations.

Key Concerns 025-0409:

Economic Growth Takes Priority Over Environmental and Indigenous Concerns
The Act now explicitly states that mining activities should support Ontario’s economy. By embedding economic growth into the law’s purpose, environmental protection and Indigenous rights risk being sidelined when they conflict with industry interests.

Minister Can Suspend Mining Rules With No Public Input
The Minister has new authority to suspend parts of the online mining claim system to protect the mineral supply chain. This power can be used without consultation, including on lands that may hold environmental significance or fall within Indigenous territories.

Fast-Tracking Mining Projects Reduces Oversight
A new permitting team can accelerate mining approvals by coordinating across ministries. This push for speed increases the risk that environmental reviews, duty-to-consult obligations, and community concerns will be bypassed or minimized.

Minister Can Deny or Cancel Mining Leases Without Safeguards
The Minister can now block or cancel leases and claims if they believe it benefits the mineral supply chain. This expands state control over land decisions — without guarantees that Indigenous rights, environmental harm, or treaty obligations will be considered.

Communities Cannot Challenge Harmful Decisions in Court
The law removes the right to take legal action against decisions made under these new powers — even if a mining claim threatens ecological health or violates Indigenous jurisdiction. By extinguishing legal challenges, it cuts off one of the few tools communities have to defend land and water.

Schedule 6 ERO 025-0409- Ontario Energy Act 1998

Key Concerns:

New rules grant the government sweeping control over where energy companies can purchase goods and services—even within Canada. These decisions are now shielded from lawsuits, effectively locking out any legal recourse. This move consolidates power in the hands of a few, erasing transparency and removing any avenue for public accountability. What we’re seeing is a deliberate shift toward unchecked government influence, where industry interests are prioritized and the public is left without a voice or a means of challenge.

New Rules (Sections 43.1 & 73) give more centralized power:
The government can limit where certain goods or services are bought from, based on their country, region, or territory of origin.
These restrictions can apply to:
Gas companies and their subsidiaries — that the government chooses through regulations. (Section 43.1)
Licensed energy companies and their subsidiaries — again, only the ones specified in regulations. (Section 73)
Basically, if the government says so, these companies can be told not to buy from certain places, even from within Canada.

Protection from Lawsuits (Section 134)
A new section says you can’t sue the government (or certain other people) over things they did, didn’t or will do.