As an angler and a hunter, I…

From my perspective, the proposed introduction of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Schedule 9 represents a significant shift in the approach to land-use governance, planning consistency, and environmental accountability by the government. In general, it is greatly misaligned with the priorities of anglers, hunters, and trappers in this province.

There are following points that are especially concerning:
The proposed changes provide a mechanism for bypassing key legislative safeguards in Ontario and would do so without any clear criteria or statutory boundaries.

There would be no requirement for environmental screening, cumulative impact assessment, or even inter-ministerial coordination. There are no thresholds or criteria for what may be permitted within a SEZ, opening the door to politically motivated decision-making.

Establishment of SEZs by regulation rather than statute, would be the end of postings on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) for future SEZ designations or exemptions. Such would severely limit public scrutiny and eliminate meaningful opportunities to comment on land-use changes with potentially far-reaching environmental consequences.

Indigenous communities are leaders in land stewardship and share common interests in protecting habitat, access to the land, and ecological integrity. The erosion of Indigenous consultation standards in SEZs sets a dangerous precedent that weakens the voices of all other land users.

From a legal perspective, ignoring Indigenous rights not only undermines legal obligations of this government, but potentially can result in slower development as a result of legal proceedings. It also threatens the legitimacy of decisions that affect these shared natural resources.

As a chair of Dog River Matawin Forest LCC, a land user (camper, angler, hunter, conservationist) I strongly recommend that Schedule 9 be removed entirely. Further collaboration with stakeholders, such as municipalities, Indigenous communities, and the general public, will develop much better economic strategies and promote sustainable development.