I am concerned about Bill 5…

I am concerned about Bill 5 as a whole, as it strips away important environmental protections, gives the government and its choice contractors exemptions from following laws within so-called "Special Economic Zones", and tramples on long standing public engagement practices, including engagement with Indigenous communities. My preference is that the government withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety. I will focus my main concerns below:

1. Schedule 2 and Schedule 10, which repeal the Endangered Species Act

The proposed repeal and replacement of the ESA is very concerning, revoking the most meaningful protections for endangered, threatened and special concern species in Ontario. I work with ecologists every day to follow the ESA on our project sites and repealing this Act is not necessary to complete projects. This is a harmful proposal, one that is short-sighted to the impacts if we do not protect the flora and fauna that are essential to the province of Ontario.

2. Schedule 9, to create special economic zones

This schedule raises serious concerns about whether the health and safety of people and the environment will be protected. This schedule would allow the government to exempt special proponents from municipal by-laws, which is a clear over-reach of the provincial government. The Bill also shields the government from civil claims that harm Ontarians as a result of this bill. It is truly shocking and unconscionable that the government would suggest such exemptions to health, safety and environmental laws in "zones" as they see fit.

3. Schedules 3 and 8

The use of this bill to exempt specific projects from the EAA and EBR, respectively. The public deserves to know that these projects, just like any other, have gone through sufficient review of environmental impacts and the public deserve the ability to provide feedback. The links between the Ford government and the new Chatham-Kent landfill owners, and the concerns around Therme's legitimacy to have been awarded the Ontario Pace contract make these exemptions even more concerning.