Dear "Progressive"…

Dear "Progressive" Conservative government,

In the face of Bill 5, I would like to put forth a series of important points as to why it should not be passed. To begin with, it provides the provincial government with unwarranted, and undeserved, power over the use of Ontario land. It ignores the rights of Indigenous peoples; providing the government unlimited power to conduct activities in the name of economic prosperity. Development would be exempt from imperative environmental assessments, a slap in the face given the current environmental crisis exacerbated by runaway development. Furthermore, the environment should be evaluated by scientists, not by politicians. The Endangered Species Act is complicated for a reason, as it provides the necessary protection of species imperative to our natural ecosystems. Forming the Species Conservation Act that prioritizes "sustainable economic growth" is contradictory to the goal of conservation, and puts forth an "economy first" narrative. To conclude my comment, I would like to underline the democratic nature of government within Ontario, and urge you to continue following this approach when creating proposed legislation. It is important that all voices are heard, and at the moment, it does not seem as though the government is representing the interests of their constituents.