Proposed Amendments to the…

Proposed Amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act, Schedule 7 of the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 (ERO number 25-0418)

I object to Schedule 7 of Bill 5. While it may seem to enhance heritage protection, it lacks a necessary preventive approach, particularly for Indigenous communities.

Economic Prioritization:
The bill emphasizes economic development through access to critical minerals and expedited permits, conflicting with the preservation of heritage values.

Reactive Framework:
Schedule 7 is primarily reactive, focussing on responding to violations rather than preventing them, which is inadequate for protecting cultural heritage.

Weak Preventive Measures:
The only preventive measure – assessment orders – is undermined by exemptions for projects aligning with provincial priorities, sidelining heritage protection.

Need for Comprehensive Approaches:
Schedule 7 should include preventive measures that respect Indigenous cultural heritage, such as defining resources from Indigenous perspectives, ensuring their involvement in assessments, and establishing protective zones.

Erosion of Protections:
The weakening of the Environmental Assessment Act raises concerns about existing safeguards for heritage, compounded by Schedule 7's lack of preventive measures.

Conclusion:
Schedule 7 currently represents a reactive approach that fails to protect Indigenous cultural heritage adequately. I urge the government of Ontario to revise it to incorporate these essential preventive measures. If such revisions cannot be made, Schedule 7 must be withdrawn in its entirety.