The proposed law on Special…

The proposed law on Special Economic Zones will literally create a “law free zone” where the Government can permit anything, anywhere, anytime, with any developer/company it wishes, without any public or municipal involvement/oversight and any requirement to meet any existing laws in Ontario – including, apparently, the rights of First Nations.

A recent CBC article likened SEZs to the type of Executive Orders emanating from President Trump and/or the type of dictatorial methods of China in pushing infrastructure and resource development.
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Surely, the (US) Executive Orders are not the models we should be emulating nor are they the models we need in Ontario. It is extremely disconcerting and ironic that Premier Ford is emulating President Trump’s approach to shred environmental laws, public participation and transparent governance by passing yet another bill that does these things – all under the pretense of protecting Ontario from the type of dictates that the President is engaging in.

We have the ability to ensure environmentally and economically viable resource and infrastructure development in a timely way while allowing public, municipal and Indigenous involvement without turning to a lawless state characterized by secret deals between private companies and the Ontario Government.

Protecting Ontario demands a policy U-turn, not more extreme versions of the same approaches this government has already tried and failed with.