I adamantly oppose Bill 5,…

I adamantly oppose Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. This legislation poses a serious threat to Ontario’s natural heritage, democratic processes and Indigenous rights.

We have to protect at-risk wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. We have few tools / policies in place to ensure the rigor required. The proposed deregulation puts short-term industrial gain ahead of long-term ecological and community health. Ecosystems are fragile and we often only learn of the ways they work in unity because they have started to break down.

It's brazen and alarming that proposed “special economic zones” would allow cabinet to approve major development projects without proper environmental assessment, public input or Indigenous consultation. This short cut 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 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.