As a deeply concerned…

As a deeply concerned citizen, I strongly oppose Bill 5, the so-called Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. This bill is an alarming attack on Indigenous rights, environmental protections, and public accountability. It hands the government unchecked power to create "Special Economic Zones" where any law, regulation, or municipal by-law can be suspended at will—without oversight, without limits, and without meaningful consultation with Indigenous communities.

This bill deliberately undermines the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate, by removing the regulatory triggers that would normally require such consultation under section 35 of the Constitution. It’s no coincidence that Ontario’s only example of a potential SEZ is the Ring of Fire—a massive, ecologically and culturally sensitive area that local First Nations call Kawana ‘bi ‘kag. By circumventing permitting and environmental safeguards, the government is inviting unchecked development at the direct expense of Indigenous lands, rights, and heritage.

Bill 5 also weakens protections for endangered species, dilutes archaeological safeguards, and creates broad legal immunities that shield the government and its allies from accountability. It sets a dangerous precedent that allows profit-driven interests to override constitutional rights, public interest, and democratic process.

This legislation is not about unleashing the economy—it is about silencing Indigenous voices, dismantling environmental stewardship, and concentrating power in the hands of a government willing to ignore its legal and moral obligations. I call on the Government of Ontario to immediately withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety.