This Act will have serious…

This Act will have serious negative consequences for the province of Ontario. This bill will further weaken environmental protections which have already been gutted to bare minimum by the Ford government. By allowing the government to exempt projects from existing laws will lead to unchecked development in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Ring of Fire, which is home to critical minerals and extremely fragile ecosystems. Additionally Indigenous leaders have continually expressed concerns about lack of consultation, emphasizing that they have not been properly engaged despite the impacts that this bill will have on their lands and resources. Some have already expressed opposition to any projects that proceed without consent. This is a far cry from the promises that the government has previously made to Indigenous communities.

Aside from these major concerns, the fact that the government is giving cabinet the power and authority to override municipal regulations and block court actions related to designated projects is a move that HUGELY undermines democratic accountability and reduces oversight. The government wants to allow highly controversial (and environmentally damaging) projects to be “fast tracked” with minimal to no environmental impact assessments, permitting requirements, public scrutiny or legal challenges, this raises many alarm bells about the the transparency and governance of the current Ford government.

Proponents may argue that this may accelerate growth, this should not come at the expense of environmental sustainability, indigenous rights and democratic principles.

The Ford government is not “for the people” and more and more seems to be aligning itself with the thoughts and ideals of the government of our neighbours to the south. We need to do better.