The Muskoka Lakes…

The Muskoka Lakes Association opposes the creation of the Special Economic Zones Act (Bill 5: Schedule 9), which would exempt “trusted proponents” and “designated projects” from complying with key provincial laws, municipal by-laws, and First Nations consultation requirements. The act contains no limits, no criteria, no process or procedures to limit its application. Further this bill transfers the power to the cabinet with no legislative and certainly no public oversight. Schedule 9 must be removed until such time as reasonable guardrails are developed and meaningfully consulted upon that work within the rule of law, civil rights and our democratic system. The potential to be applied anywhere is a frightening prospect.
This is not the Muskoka the MLA has fought for over the past 131 years. The environment and quality of life in Ontario cannot be thrown away to “unleash the economy”. In Muskoka, the environment is the economy, as it is in many northern communities. The MLA’s 2000+ member families representing approximately 11,000 individuals contribute directly to Ontario’s economy through tourism, property tax revenue, recreational spending, and cottage-related industries. A diverse and healthy environment and waterfront is not just an environmental imperative—it’s a foundational economic asset. In fact, Ontario cottagers represent a powerful economic force, owning over $75 billion in real estate and spending $8 billion annually on goods and services beyond their properties. Of this, Muskoka cottagers own 25,000 properties and spend $1.25 billion annually with almost an equivalent amount in Parry Sound.
The lakes, forests, wetlands, wildlife and watersheds of Ontario are not expendable in pursuit of development. This bill purports to ‘protect Ontario’ but it will have the opposite effect. The Ontario we call home does not degrade our environment and abrogate the rights of its citizens in pursuit of economic gains for private enterprise.
Muskoka Lakes Association