Dear Dear Premier Ford, …

Dear Dear Premier Ford, Minister Lecee and MPP Thanigasalam,

I am writing to express my deep concerns about Bill 5, Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, which you have introduced.

As you know, this bill would accelerate the loss of critical habitat for endangered species, remove essential environmental rights, and fail to uphold Indigenous rights recognized by UNDRIP.

Specifically, I’m concerned about Bill 5:
• Ending the environmental assessment for the Eagle’s Nest mine in Treaty 9 lands, putting the James Bay Lowlands at risk.
• Createing “special economic zones” that bypass environmental protections, disproportionately impacting Indigenous, racialized, and low-income communities.
• Weakening protections for at-risk species by replacing the Endangered Species Act with less effective, voluntary measures.
• Reducing government accountability by limiting legal recourse against the Crown.

While I understand the intent to promote economic growth, you are prioritizing private interests over the public good, environmental protection, and Indigenous rights, which isn’t your place.

This will undermine public trust and cause lasting harm. In addition, when this becomes wider know and understood, this will remind all your constituents of your Greenbelt Scandal and I expect it will show in the polls…. I will certainly work to make it so.

I respectfully urge you to:
1. Withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety.
2. Extend the comment periods for all Bill 5-related proposals to allow for meaningful public input.

Sincerely,

Sam from Toronto