Bill 5, Protect Ontario by…

Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing the Economy Act does anything but Protect Ontario and is an undemocratic grab at power from our Premier.Bill 5 is an insult to the public as Ford pursues a domain where he and the government and proponents or developer and/or friends can call an area a special economic zone, for whatever reason, and do whatever they please, wherever and whenever they choose.  Canada was founded on the Rule of Law that would no longer exist here, if passed, and we would be living in an undemocratic province which supposedly gives us certain RIghts and Freedoms under Canada's Charter of RIghts and Freedoms.  We just can't ignore laws because we don't want to follow them.  We have human rights and we have an Environment Bill of Rights that is for protection of all types of species, not their demise.  The Provincial government should be an example for everyone rather than looking for a way out of a situation in such a negative way.  The other final insult which is included in the bill, prohibits any legal action against their actions.  This is not the Canadian way!  We have fought for and deserve a democratic process and not just to vote for elections.

I have so many questions that I wondered about in relation to this bill.  Will labourers still be able to negotiate their contracts in these special economic zones?  Will developers now be able to build in the Greenbelt and choose cheaper alternatives and ways to accomplish their faster building timelines?  Will Provincial Parks be the only place where you can see nature in its natural state?  Will municipalities no longer be relevant or just a department under this province?  Will the Indigenous people have their treaties and rights acknowledged?  Did the premier let the public voters know what all of the provincial priorities would be during the lastest election? Should provincial priorities override the local municipal wishes for the citizens they know better?  Is this the end of the protected Greenbelt?  Where will this end?  These Trumpian acts defy what Canada and Canadians have fought for and continue to fight for.  There are many more questions to be asked about this bill which should be answered by the government BEFORE it passes into law.  My thoughts are scattered all over the place but this omnibus bill covers a lot of different items to comment on.

We all are aware of the way this premier pushes reports and assessments aside and instead of relying on facts and figures or science, he does as he sees fit.  It doesn't matter if the citizens of Ontario protest loudly and use the data against what he is doing, like the Greenbelt issue.  The Greenbelt is no longer safe, despite Ford saying he will leave the Greenbelt alone twice.  Now it is free rein and the developers will reap the spoils.  This will not help with housing affordability because of the minimansions that will be built on our farmland.  Smaller houses are what is necessary along with keeping farmland to feed the increasing number of Canadians with local food.

Should provincial priorities override archeological assessments?  This work is important and should not be exempt because of priorities to "get'r done" quicker, but it is well worth the time.  Indigenous and other Canadians deserve to have their heritage respected and not an issue to dismiss due to what the province wants done in a faster time period than having the assessments would require.  To earn respect, respect must also be given.  Overriding requirements does not show respect!  It does show a lack of leadership and respect for the people that you are to serve.

I think that the province needs to follow the due process of law and give its tax paying citizens time to be consulted on issues in a meaningful manner, not just listen and continue as wanted anyway.  Concessions should then be made for citizens rather than all the province wishes.  This is the give and take of democracy which right now is a very precious commodity.  The desire and push to get things done should not remove the public participation and reevaluation of goals to better suit all, not just one party/group making all the decisions.

The plan to repeal The Endangered Species Act shows that the interconnectedness of the ecosystems on each other is of no importance to this government.  Biodiversity, species pathways and the importance of wetlands are not in their vocabulary and definitely not important at all.  The replacement is to allow developers to "pay and slay" with no regard to other species or land formations that are part of the ecosystem like wetlands.  This fight has been ongoing with the Greenbelt and it's very important to the future of this province as we think ahead seven generations.  We are talking about prime farmland that is supposed to be protected, but the premier has flouted that protection on many occasions.  This is going backwards not forward after we have made so many gains and followed the science and followed the rule of law. This also does not take current factors of population, environmental assessments and what residents can truly afford into consideration.  I grieve for the future if this bill passes as it currently is.  This bill guts protection and the law in the guise of doing things faster.