Bill 5 Schedule 9 will allow…

Bill 5 Schedule 9 will allow the government to create “special economic zones” where “trusted proponents" could be exempted from all provincial and municipal laws. If the writers of this Bill had a desire to trigger outrage they could not have found better words than “trusted proponent” given the numerous examples of who and how the government aligns itself. For example, there are the developers who were close to acquiring protected Greenbelt lands for development and for their own profit.
The concept of these zones is disturbing in itself but the fact that there is no specific information on the criteria for establishing a zone or for monitoring compliance to whatever regulations are declared for it. There is no indication of life span for such a zone.
The creation of the zones is also another reduction of democracy which unfortunately has occurred too often since 2018. Establishing a 30 day comment for this complex, substantial omnibus bill is not democratic. Assigning authority to define a special economic zone to the cabinet i.e. the executive branch as opposed to the legislature is very big overreach.
From my reading it's my guess that the Province’s rationale for this bill is that there needs to be these substantial changes In order to facilitate economic development and address current tariff battles.
I do not accept this rationale. We have responsibility to future generations to provide for a healthy environment and vibrant communities, to protect farmland, water and our green spaces. I believe that if implemented Bill 5 will weaken or eliminate legislative safeguards which protect the environment, human health and indigenous rights.
A bold government charts a path to protect these rights whilst facilitating economic development and addressing tariff battles.
A bold Canadian provincial government charts a path which is very unlike what is occurring in the USA where deregulation is perceived to solve the problem today without consideration or care for the consequences on the next generations.