I strongly oppose Bill 5…

I strongly oppose Bill 5. While economic growth and efficiency are important goals, this bill takes an alarming approach that sacrifices environmental protection, public accountability, and Indigenous rights for short-term development gains.

Schedules like the proposed *Special Economic Zones Act* (Schedule 9) concentrate far too much unchecked power in the hands of the Cabinet, allowing key laws and regulations to be suspended with little transparency or oversight. This undermines democratic safeguards and could set a dangerous precedent for governance in Ontario.

Equally concerning is the replacement of the *Endangered Species Act* with a weaker conservation framework (Schedule 10), which risks irreparable harm to biodiversity at a time when we should be strengthening, not weakening, our environmental commitments.

Moreover, the bill’s failure to require meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities—particularly with regard to mining and land use—contravenes the spirit of reconciliation and legal obligations under Section 35 of the Constitution.

Economic progress should not come at the expense of fundamental rights, environmental stewardship, and community voices. I urge the Ontario government to withdraw or substantially revise Bill 5 to ensure development is truly sustainable and just.