I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my firm opposition to Bill 5 – the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025 (ERO #025-0416). If passed, this legislation would dismantle critical environmental protections, erode public accountability, and undermine Indigenous rights—setting a dangerous precedent for the future of Ontario’s ecosystems and democratic governance.

Bill 5 proposes to repeal the Endangered Species Act, 2007, abandoning science-based safeguards for Ontario’s most vulnerable species and habitats. Extinction is irreversible. Prioritizing short-term economic gain over biodiversity reflects reckless and irresponsible leadership. Without ecological balance, Ontario loses the very foundation of its natural heritage.

Equally concerning is the bill’s creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), where developers could bypass municipal and provincial laws. This opens the door to unchecked development, urban sprawl, and environmental degradation, all while silencing community voices and undermining regulatory oversight. The Ford government’s ongoing alignment with developer interests at the expense of public trust is clearly evident here.

Exempting Ontario Place redevelopment from the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 further erodes public input and democratic process. Ontario residents deserve a voice in decisions affecting public spaces, ecosystems, and their own health.

The bill’s attack on clean energy is especially alarming. Banning renewable infrastructure from international sources—particularly wind and solar—will hinder Ontario’s low-carbon transition, deepen fossil fuel dependency, and contradict both provincial and global climate commitments.

Most troubling is the proposed elimination of archaeological assessments and the failure to uphold meaningful consultation with Indigenous Nations. This violates constitutionally protected rights and undermines reconciliation and obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Bill 5 represents an unprecedented rollback of environmental, democratic, and Indigenous protections—all under the guise of economic growth. But a thriving economy cannot exist on a degraded planet or in a province where public trust is eroded.

I urge the Government of Ontario to immediately withdraw Bill 5 and recommit to science-based, transparent, and democratic policymaking that respects our environment, communities, and shared future