I would like to voice my…

I would like to voice my strong opposition to Bill 5 - the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. This legislation threatens to endanger 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. This proposal to replace it with ill-defined “goals” and unenforceable measures will lead to the further decline of species already on the brink. This is not modernization. It’s deregulation and it puts short-term industrial gain ahead of long-term ecological and the health of our communities.

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 strongly urge the Ontario government to *withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety* and instead work with environmental experts, Indigenous leaders and the public to strengthen — not dismantle — our systems of environmental protection.

We must stand against the idea that protecting nature is a barrier to economic growth. Instead, we must stand WITH nature - it is the foundation of a healthy, resilient and just society.