I urge legislators to reject…

I urge legislators to reject the establishment of special economic zones in which the Premier and cabinet would take on the responsibilities that should belong to elected Members of Parliament. The bill would create a legal mechanism for the government and the development proponent to bypass consultation and engagement with First Nation governments, potentially omitting the Duty to Consult and respecting the Honour of the Crown under section 35. The bill enables appointed officials to arbitrarily apply different laws (or no laws) to different people. Rather than setting clear criteria for or limits on designating a geographic area as a special economic zone or an enterprise as a “designated project”, the current language proposes unrestricted discretion over the criteria to the Premier and his cabinet.