I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 5, the "Protecting Ontario by Enabling Economic Growth Act, 2024". This legislation poses serious and far-reaching risks to Ontario’s environment, democratic processes, Indigenous rights, and long-term economic well-being.

While I support efforts to streamline governance and responsibly grow Ontario’s economy, Bill 5 does not achieve these goals. Instead, it creates broad powers to override existing protections and fast-track development at the expense of ecosystems, communities, and transparency. Of particular concern is the bill’s likely role in enabling environmentally destructive and highly controversial projects such as the Bradford Bypass.

Bill 5 repeals the Endangered Species Act and introduces the concept of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), allowing for development without meaningful environmental assessment or public consultation. Projects like the Bradford Bypass—set to cut through the Holland Marsh and the Lake Simcoe watershed—stand to benefit from this legislative framework at great environmental cost.

The Holland Marsh is a provincially significant wetland and one of the most fertile and productive agricultural regions in Ontario. Destroying or fragmenting this natural infrastructure undermines:

• Natural flood mitigation
• Water filtration and carbon storage
• Biodiversity and species at risk

Replacing these free, functioning ecosystems with engineered alternatives would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and still fail to match the effectiveness of the original landscape.

Bill 5’s rollback of environmental oversight coincides with increasing flash flood events driven by climate change. Wetlands reduce flood severity by absorbing rainfall and slowing runoff. Paving over these areas will:

• Exacerbate flooding in nearby towns
• Overwhelm local stormwater infrastructure
• Increase the cost and frequency of emergency response and infrastructure repair

At the same time, road runoff from highways like the proposed Bradford Bypass introduces salt, oil, and heavy metals into nearby waterways. This poses a direct threat to the water quality of the Lake Simcoe watershed and the viability of nearby farmland, which relies on clean water for irrigation. Poor water quality can reduce crop yields, drive up treatment costs, and threaten Ontario’s local food security.

The economic impacts of these environmental disruptions are extensive:

• Flood damage to homes and infrastructure costs municipalities and homeowners millions
• Insurance premiums increase, and property values in flood-prone areas decline
• Farmers face higher costs and lower productivity due to degraded water and soil quality
• Municipal budgets are strained by increased demand for remediation and emergency services

These outcomes undermine the very economic resilience that Bill 5 claims to support. In contrast, protecting wetlands and agricultural land strengthens Ontario’s economy by reducing disaster costs, supporting local food systems, and preserving valuable natural assets for future generations.

Bill 5 also erodes the public’s ability to participate in decisions that directly impact their communities. By granting the government sweeping authority to override environmental laws and bypass public consultation, the bill undermines democratic principles and opens the door to potential conflicts of interest. The exemption of development projects from a full environmental assessment, coupled with reports of political favoritism in its routing, only deepens public distrust.

In conclusion, Bill 5 is not a balanced or responsible piece of legislation. It prioritizes short-term development gains over long-term environmental and economic health. It removes critical checks and balances that protect communities, watersheds, and ecosystems. And it limits the rights of Ontarians to have a say in what happens to the land and water they depend on.

I urge you to withdraw Bill 5 or significantly amend it to:

• Restore environmental oversight, including the Endangered Species Act
• Remove legal immunities for developers operating in SEZs
• Ensure full environmental assessments for all major infrastructure projects
• Respect Indigenous rights and uphold the duty to consult
• Safeguard public participation and municipal autonomy

Ontario deserves a future that is economically strong, environmentally sustainable, and democratically governed. Bill 5 takes us in the wrong direction.