Public Comment on Schedule 7…

Public Comment on Schedule 7 of the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025”

I strongly oppose the proposed amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act as outlined in Schedule 7 of the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025,” particularly those that:
1. Allow exemptions from archaeological assessments for infrastructure and development projects without clear, public criteria or transparent oversight. This opens the door to irreversible damage to heritage and sacred Indigenous sites.

2. Expand ministerial power to seize artifacts and collections from individuals and refuse compensation. This sets a dangerous precedent for undermining private ownership, community stewardship, and Indigenous rights over cultural property.

3. Introduce broad search and seizure authority, including warrantless searches in certain cases, with no clear safeguards for property owners or communities.

4. Remove compensation rights, weakening legal accountability and creating an imbalance of power between the government and the public.

Ontario’s heritage and archaeological legacy cannot be subordinated to economic priorities without careful, transparent, and inclusive decision-making — especially when Indigenous and marginalized histories are at stake.
I urge the government to:
• Fully disclose and consult on exemption criteria before passing this legislation;
• Guarantee protections for sensitive and sacred sites;
Ensure compensation rights remain in place;
Establish independent oversight mechanisms for enforcement powers.
Ontario must balance growth with respect for the past — and these amendments fail that test.