As an Environmental Science…

As an Environmental Science major and an advocate for conservation. I am writing to express my unequivocal opposition to Bill 5—the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025 (ERO #025-0416). This legislation is deeply concerning, as it dismantles core environmental protections that safeguard Ontario’s ecosystems, undermines public accountability, and disregards Indigenous consultation. As a young Ontarian who is a member of my university's student government, I represent my peers. Their biggest concerns are environmental sustainability and protection. The repeal of essential environmental regulations puts our future at risk—something we take very seriously.
This bill proposes the repeal of the Endangered Species Act, 2007, effectively abandoning critical protections for Ontario’s most vulnerable wildlife and habitats. As someone who has dedicated my studies to understanding environmental systems, I know firsthand that biodiversity loss is not a temporary setback—it is a permanent crisis. Stripping these protections in favor of short-term economic gain is shortsighted and reckless. Ontario cannot continue to be "yours to discover" if the ecological balance that makes it livable is destroyed.
Equally alarming is the bill’s provision to create Special Economic Zones (SEZs), allowing developers to bypass municipal and provincial laws that protect land, water, and communities. This undermines democratic oversight and prioritizes unchecked development at the expense of environmental sustainability. The Ford government has repeatedly favored developers over Ontario residents, and this bill only amplifies that trend.
Bill 5 also directly threatens Ontario’s clean energy future. By granting the government power to ban renewable energy components, the province is forced into increased dependence on fossil fuels. This contradicts Ontario’s climate commitments and severely weakens efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As young Ontarians, we are deeply concerned about climate change, and we expect our leaders to champion sustainable energy policies rather than sabotage them.
Perhaps most troubling of all is the bill’s disregard for Indigenous rights. Eliminating archaeological assessment requirements threatens invaluable cultural heritage and violates constitutionally protected obligations. Meaningful consultation with Indigenous Nations is essential—not just a bureaucratic checkbox. Ignoring this responsibility is an affront to reconciliation efforts and goes against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Bill 5 is an unprecedented rollback of environmental, democratic, and Indigenous rights protections—all under the misleading guise of "economic progress." A strong economy cannot thrive on a degraded planet, and public trust erodes when legislation so blatantly disregards our future.
Young Ontarians are deeply invested in climate action and environmental policy. If conservatives wish to retain our support, they must recognize that our votes are contingent on a government that prioritizes sustainability and long-term ecological health. I urge the Government of Ontario to immediately withdraw Bill 5 and recommit to transparent, science-based, and democratic processes that protect both our environment and our future.