I strongly oppose Bill 5…

I strongly oppose Bill 5.

This legislation places an unacceptable emphasis on deregulation at a time when we are already witnessing alarming declines in wildlife populations and the destruction of critical habitats. Ontario has long recognized the importance of environmental protections, as reflected in the Endangered Species Act and other foundational policies. Gutting these safeguards will have immediate and irreversible consequences for at-risk species and ecosystems.

Bill 5 also disregards the rights of the public and Indigenous communities, silencing voices that have a legal and moral right to be heard. It grants sweeping and unprecedented powers to the provincial government, allowing it to bypass laws and override environmental protections—whether it’s mining in ecologically sensitive areas, paving highways through the Greenbelt, destroying class one farmland and wetlands, or infilling Lake Ontario at Ontario Place for a private company.

Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights exists to ensure our natural environment is protected for future generations—not discarded when the Ford government finds it inconvenient.

This bill is a blatant power grab. It is undemocratic, irresponsible, and deeply short-sighted. If passed, it will cause irreparable harm to First Nations, to the public, and to countless species who depend on these ecosystems for survival.