The Special Economic Zones…

The Special Economic Zones Act is an authoritarian piece of legislation that would allow the provincial government to override any provincial or municipal laws to force through their favourite projects through “trusted proponents”. The Act provides no restrictions over criteria that the premier and cabinet would use to push these chosen projects ahead. The Act would bypass public consultation through the Environmental Bill of Rights and would avoid proper consultation with First Nations.

Through exemption of designated projects to archaeological assessments, environmental assessments, endangered species protections, and removing transparency for mining claims Bill 5 bypasses rights to consultation with Indigenous peoples and the general public.

Bill 5 and the Special Economic Zones Act should be scrapped entirely.