I support strengthening…

I support strengthening Ontario’s economy; however as an environmental scientist I know that planning based on ecological principles is essential. Bill 5 is an unnecessary overreach and I ask that you:
1. Cancel plans to scrap the Endangered Species Act. In fact, we ask it needs to be strengthened. The Protection of species and their habitat, protects people. It
ensures a healthy ecosystem that supports clean air, clean water, carbon
sequestration, oxygen generation, pollination services, flood-resistance, erosion
control, heat island mitigation and areas for human recreation. And finally, it
provides a resilient biodiversity that can best weather the impacts of climate
change. These benefits cannot just be swept aside for short-term gain, undermining
the environment for future generations of Ontarians. For example, destroying more wetlands will only exacerbate flooding that is costing taxpayers already.

2. Rethink the proposed Special Economic Zones that would exempt entire regions
from provincial laws and environmental safeguards. Forcing projects on Indigenous
and other communities, without environmental safeguards and without the ability of
people elected by these developments to have a say, violates Indigenous and
human rights. It also threatens the health and safety of these citizens and their
environment. Environmental, planning and public participation rules were instituted
for a reason. They were a reaction to the human and environmental health damage
that was caused in the past by unchecked, unregulated industrial development.
They cannot simply be tossed aside now, for the benefit of large corporate interests.

3. Rescind the part of the Bill that would allow the province to ban all parts of energy
projects that come from abroad. This could largely end the expansion of the
green energy projects that Ontario needs to remain competitive in a global economy
that is greening. For instance, China currently makes 80% of the world’s solar
panels and 60% of wind turbines. For the good of Ontario’s citizens, their health,
their economic future and for the sake of our environment, our green energy sector
must grow, not take a back seat to other energy initiatives.

The proposed Bill erodes democratic government. It reverses legislation that
holds cabinet accountable to the legislature and concentrates broad-reaching,
emergency-level powers in the hands of a few Ministers and special interests without any
of the safeguards and restrictions that actual emergency powers have, such as time limits.

As Ontario’s citizens look with horror at what is happening south of the border, they
understand, even more deeply, why it is necessary to uphold democratic values, the
separation of powers and the rule of law. Bill 5 erodes all of these concepts. Your party did
not run on creating lawless zones that risk being used to weaponize marginalized groups,
and that gives you the power to circumvent the law on ANY property in Ontario.

Your citizens care about democracy and the environment as they demonstrated loudly with
the Greenbelt protests. A survey done by Environics Research in 2022 revealed that 70% of
residents in Ontario agreed with the statement that loss of wildlife and nature is at a crisis
point in Canada and we need to act now to reduce the damage. Bill 5, as it is currently
proposed, does the opposite.

I ask you to find ways to improve Ontario’s economy while protecting the resilience of our environment and our rights as citizens.