Dear ERO, This is not a good…

Dear ERO,
This is not a good proposed Act and passing it will knowingly endanger wildlife, nature, climate, Indigenous reconciliation, and the future of your party.
Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, poses a serious threat to Ontario’s natural heritage, democratic processes and Indigenous rights.
Bill 5 proposes to repeal the Endangered Species Act — one of the few tools we have to protect at-risk wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. Replacing it with vague “goals” and unenforceable measures will lead to the further decline of species already on the brink. This is not modernization. It’s deregulation that puts short-term industrial gain ahead of long-term ecological and community health. It will definitely lead to more lawsuits against your government.
Equally alarming is the creation of “special economic zones” that would allow cabinet to approve major development projects without proper environmental assessment, public input or Indigenous consultation. This short cut for Ford’s friends undermines transparency, accountability and Ontario’s duty to uphold Indigenous rights and treaties.
Ontarians have not asked for weaker protections or less say in decisions that affect the province’s land, water and future. Bill 5 would silence community voices, marginalize science and erase decades of hard-won environmental progress.
I urge the Ontario government to withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety and instead work with scientists, environmental experts, Indigenous leaders and the public to strengthen — not dismantle — our systems of environmental protection.
Protecting nature is not a barrier to economic growth. It’s the foundation of a healthy, resilient and just society. Your government has already lost two levels of a legal fight initiated by young people who argue that the reduction of environmental regulation endangers their freedom. Judges agree with them. They, and we, will judge this act as well for pursuing short term profit at the expense of all our futures.