I am writing to you as a…

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent of Rhonda Kirkland to express my firm opposition to Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. While I understand the intent to drive economic growth, I believe this bill places short-term profit over long-term wellbeing—undermining environmental protections, public accountability, and the foundational health of our province.

The Environment is NOT a Barrier to Prosperity—It is the Basis for it
Ontario’s forests, wetlands, rivers, and species are not optional luxuries. They are the living systems that sustain all life—including our own. Clean air, fresh water, healthy soil, and biodiversity are not sentimental concerns; they are the infrastructure of survival. If we degrade them, no economy—no matter how ambitious—can thrive.
This bill treats environmental regulations as burdensome red tape, when in truth they are a form of intergenerational stewardship. What kind of future are we building if we prioritize development today at the cost of clean water, stable climate, and healthy ecosystems tomorrow? An economy means nothing if the land becomes uninhabitable. This is not just about policy—it’s about the legacy we leave for our children, and whether we are willing to protect the living world that protects us.

Weakening Protections for Species at Risk
The proposed replacement of the Endangered Species Act with the Species Conservation Act, 2025 appears to weaken the mandatory listing of at-risk species and could reduce meaningful protections for wildlife. These creatures are indicators of ecosystem health—when they suffer, we all do. We have a responsibility not only to preserve Ontario’s rich biodiversity but also to maintain the balance of nature that allows agriculture, clean water, pollination, and stable climate to exist.

Legal Immunity and Loss of Public Oversight
Bill 5 grants legal immunity to government bodies for actions taken under its provisions, eroding transparency and the public’s right to hold decision-makers accountable. This is a dangerous precedent. People should have the right to challenge decisions that harm communities or ecosystems.

Special Economic Zones and Deregulation
The bill’s proposal to create Special Economic Zones with exemptions from existing regulations raises serious concerns. It allows the government to carve out zones where environmental safeguards and public interest protections are suspended, in favor of unchecked development. This threatens to fragment regulatory coherence and invite environmental degradation under the guise of economic efficiency.

I urge you to stand with your constituents and protect the land we all depend on. We need leaders who recognize that a truly prosperous province is one where the economy serves the people—and the people protect the planet.
Please vote against Bill 5 and call for stronger, not weaker, environmental protections. Our future depends on it.