This bill is harmful and…

This bill is harmful and regressive and reeks of Trumpean politics, instead of proposing a forward-looking, environmentally sound bill that protects the public, communities and nature in the best Canadian spirit. We cannot afford to continue destroying critical habitats for endangered species. Our world is in crisis and we MUST support even the most basic environmental rights: we must have a rights to be informed and have a say.

This bill also fails to respect Indigenous peoples' rights, including those recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

From what I have read, if passed, this bill:

1. “Terminate the environmental assessment (EA) for the Eagle’s Nest mine - a proposed mining project in Treaty 9 lands, part of the proposed Ring of Fire (Schedule 3).” This jeopardizes the lands and waters in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.

2. “Exempt entire regions from provincial laws and environmental safeguards through the creation of “special economic zones” - such as those in and around the proposed Ring of Fire mining development. Environmentally hazardous sites, like mines, continue to be established near areas primarily inhabited by Indigenous, racialized and low income communities without their consent or participation. This is environmental racism, a human rights and environmental health issue that will be exacerbated if Bill 5 passes.” This is simply unacceptable. We should be working on bills that do the exact opposite of this.

3. “Threaten species survival and recovery by repealing the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and replacing it with the Species Conservation Act that relies on voluntary initiatives and discretionary, not mandatory, species protection and eliminates requirements to create recovery strategies for at-risk species, making it nearly impossible to track and mitigate threats to their survival (Schedule 2)”
There is already a history in Ontario of sweeping amendments exempting major extractive industries from the ESA’s protective measures, delaying the classification of species on the Species At Risk in Ontario (SARO) List, broadening Ministerial decision-making powers absent a requirement to seek expert advice, and limiting the publicly accessible and transparent information sharing. We cannot continue down this path. Have we not noticed that the world is on fire, literally and figuratively, and time is running out?

4. “Erode government accountability by attention to narrow judicial scrutiny by the courts by restricting potential causes of actions against the Crown  (Schedule 5)”

Ontario already endorses private interests without the slightest regard for the public good, especially when it comes to mining. This is the time to stand for transparent and accountable government decision-making and against irreparable harm to environmental and human rights.

There should be an extension of the comment periods for all Bill 5 related proposals posted on the Environmental Registry to allow for meaningful public particpation to occur. Bill 5 should be withdrawn in its entirety.