Dear Premier Ford, As a…

Dear Premier Ford,

As a resident of Manitoba, I frequently use the wild spaces of Ontario for recreation and relaxation. I strongly oppose Bill 5: The Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act and its deeply concerning proposals, including the weakening of Ontario’s endangered species protection and the creation of Special Economic Zones.

The Special Economic Zones Act (Schedule 9) would allow the Provincial Cabinet to grant exemptions from municipal and provincial regulations for certain proponents and projects. This gives the Cabinet unprecedented powers and is unacceptable.

The new Species Conservation Act (Schedules 2 & 10) would strip away real protections for at-risk species and their habitats. We are in a biodiversity crisis and climate crisis. Especially given the alarming number of wildfires already being experienced in Ontario in 2025, now is the time to double down on protecting vulnerable species at risk and critical habitats, rather than weakening protections.

These changes proposed in Bill 5 may also undermine Indigenous communities’ right to free, prior, and informed consent for projects taking place on their territories.

Commercial tourism may be negatively impacted by Bill 5 and the potential increase in forest degradation for industrial use, given the large number of travelers both Canadian and international who visit the boreal forest for recreational purposes.

I urge your government to:

● Cancel Bill 5 and the plans to scrap the Endangered Species Act or implement
“regulation-free zones” for resource extraction.

● Commit to strengthening the Endangered Species Act.

I urge you to withdraw Bill 5 immediately.