I am writing to oppose Bill…

I am writing to oppose Bill 5. This sweeping and dangerous piece of legislation will gut long-standing environmental protections, particularly through the proposed replacement of the Endangered Species Act with the so-called Species Conservation Act. This new Act prioritizes industrial activity over biodiversity, allowing harmful activities to proceed with nothing more than a registration, stripping away essential oversight and accountability.
Additionally, the introduction of a Special Economic Zones Act is deeply alarming. It would allow entire areas to be designated as regulatory free-for-alls, where developers can bypass municipal bylaws and all other legislation. This is a blatant erosion of local democracy and environmental safeguards, concentrating power in the hands of developers with no clear checks or balances. It is exhausting to witness this government repeatedly try to dismantle environmental protections in service of private developers. Doug Ford keeps pushing forward harmful legislation while people are overwhelmed trying to keep up. It feels like he’s banking on public fatigue and distraction to quietly push through another destructive bill—and we’re tired of it.
Ontarians overwhelmingly value our natural heritage. Weakening protections for species at risk and creating corporate enclaves exempt from environmental and community laws does not reflect the public interest. This bill threatens irreplaceable ecosystems and sets a dangerous precedent for the future of planning and conservation in Ontario.
I urge the government to withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety.