As a lifelong Ontario…

As a lifelong Ontario resident and a citizen deeply committed to our environment, I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 5 (2022), the so-called “Protecting Ontario’s Environment and Economy Act.” Despite its name, this bill would gravely weaken Ontario’s environmental protections. It repeals the Endangered Species Act, stripping away vital safeguards for threatened wildlife and shrinking the definition of protected habitat to almost nothing
environmentaldefence.ca
. It also creates “special economic zones” that let developers bypass environmental laws and even municipal rules, opening the door to uncontrolled industrial development in our communities
ecojustice.ca
. Environmental experts warn that Bill 5 will leave at-risk species with no meaningful protection
ecojustice.ca
and set a dangerous precedent of putting short-term profit above science, nature, and public interest. We all depend on clean water, clean air, and healthy ecosystems – they are the foundation of a strong economy, not obstacles to it. This legislation betrays our shared environmental values and our responsibility to future generations. I urge you to withdraw or vote against Bill 5 and instead work on policies that truly balance economic recovery with the protection of Ontario’s irreplaceable environment.