Archaeology should not be…

Archaeology should not be considered red tape. Implementing Bill 5 will not be "protecting" Ontario, it will be destroying thousands of archaeological sites and artifacts that allow the individuals living in Ontario to learn and understand how past Indigenous and settler communities lived on and used the lands of this province. Passing this bill would significantly impact and undermine Indigenous rights, engagement, and heritage by destroying Indigenous archaeological sites that not only provide significant knowledge to Ontario's history but also hold high cultural importance to the Indigenous communities of Ontario. Many individuals dedicate their lives to forming a career in the field of archaeology and work to help uncover information from past communities, sites, and peoples. Implementing a bill that encourages circumventing proper archaeological survey would, in turn, affect the ability of archaeology companies to get projects, which results in needing fewer employees, which leads to many individuals losing their careers and livelihoods. Individuals working in archaeology, like myself, are extremely passionate about conserving and protecting cultural heritage in Ontario, and across Canada. The possibility of losing the career that we have worked so hard to obtain, and are so passionate about is devastating and infuriating. Our careers are on the line for a bill that will have detrimental effects not only to Ontario's Indigenous and settler history, but also to the environment by repealing legislation surrounding endangered species, clean energy, and climate change protocols. I hope that the Ontario government realizes how detrimental passing this bill will be for the province and that this bill should NOT be implemented.