Comments on Bill 5, May 17,…

Comments on Bill 5, May 17, 2025.
First, a comment on the difficulty finding all portions of the bill in the listings of the ERO. Using the search function, and Bill 5 as the search term, the only portions which comes up for comment are the portions related to the changes to the Mining act, the Electricity act and the Ontario Energy Board act The summary makes no mention of any of the other portions of the bill. There are no links on that page to any other portions of Bill 5. As of May 5, a link was provided to the entire bill, but that link does not contain links to the other comment pages on the ERO. I am assured that if I comment on the other portions of the bill on the Ministry of Energy and Mines page (025-0409) that my comments would be forwarded to the other relevant ministries as if they were made on the other ERO pages.
However, given the difficulty, and the length of time it took to get that answer (May 16), I have not had sufficient time to prepare a proper response, and therefore would ask that the comment period be extended.
Herewith my quick comments on the bill.
First, on the proposals to limit foreign (read US) involvement in our electricity supply, the government ironically ignores the biggest US involvement, the design and fueling of new nuclear reactors. Ontario has contracted with a US company, GE-Hitachi for the provision of new nuclear reactors. In addition, once built, Ontario will be a captive purchaser of fuel from a US company. Should the US government restrict or tax that fuel, Ontario’s new nuclear reactors will be unaffordable or inoperable.
Second, the Ontario Place Act changes are apparently designed to remove rights. I object to any removal of my rights.
Third, the changes to the system of protection endangered species in Ontario is clearly designed to permit further endangering of already endangered species. I object.
Fourth, the changes to the Heritage act appear to make it possible for developers to ignore history, archeology, and heritage, at the whim of the minister.
Finally, Schedule 9, which creates an entirely new act, is the most egregious and undemocratic provision ever proposed by any government, let alone an Ontario government. The description of the act on the ERO is misleading, as it adds wording which is not present in the bill. It suggests that the bill will protect industries and mitigate trade disruptions. Neither of those thoughts appear anywhere in the bill itself. The summary states critical or strategic importance is necessary. Again those words are not in the bill. It describes ‘reliable proponents’ as meeting high standards of operation, safety and the environment. Again, those qualities are absent from the bill.
The Bill itself is completely silent on where, when, who, or why the ‘special economic zones’ will operate. It is silent on what laws will be ‘waived’ for the zones or the projects. So it is a complete blank cheque. If a Russian oligarch offered to build an NFL stadium in Downtown Toronto, but needed to avoid planning, land purchase laws, minimum wage laws, etc., the government could give him those easements.
The extremes available to the government with this law, with no protection for anyone or anywhere, is unimaginable. This kind of absolute power of a government is only available in dictatorships, never in democratic governments. I object completely to this bill.