I strongly oppose the plan…

I strongly oppose the plan to create “Special Economic Zones” that will enable the provincial Cabinet to exempt these zones and the entities who operate within them, from municipal and/or provincial laws. This will hide from public or legislative scrutiny any decisions made under these powers. Historically, there was a rebellion in 1837 against such a system. Is it appropriate to return to a mechanism that obscures what is taking place and thereby encourages fraud, bribery, and patronage?

There are no definitions in this legislation so the premier and his cabinet have sole discretion over the criteria used in their decision-making process. This is the most anti-democratic legislation proposed in this country. It is a Trumpian move initiated by the government elected to oppose him not legislatively copy his methods.

This will also allow the government to breach constitutionally defined and protected Indigenous rights including the “Duty to Consult” and respecting the “Honour of the Crown” under section 35 of the Constitution Act 1982.

This is a dangerous circumvention of the rights of Ontario citizens and creates a framework that will allow future governments of any Ontario political party the ability to restrict citizen rights in unknown ways.