I am against this proposal…

I am against this proposal in its entirety and ask it not be accepted. I ask Ontario to do better.

This proposal raises serious concerns around transparency, accountability, and environmental stewardship.

This proposal would allow Cabinet/Minister to create zones, transcending the rest of the bill. Once created, the Cabinet/Minsiter would be able to designate ANY "trusted" proponets and ANY projects for ANY reason and in ANY location. This is too broad, allowing for too much discretion.

This proposal seems to be built to allow the Ring of Fire project to move through and other projects in northern Ontario, but it does not explicitly say. The Ring of Fire is a controversial project, with environmental, economic, health and numerous other concerns. Many Indigenous groups, the public, and environmental groups are against the Ring of Fire. Putting through this bill to allow the Ontario Government to do whatever they want is not in the spirit of collaboration or consultation; it shows that they are not willing to listen to concerns of others. This is not what a good government does. A good government listens to its citizens. Ontario has a duty to consult; Indigenous Peoples have rights under the constitution, which would be breached by this proposal. Not only is this proposal thus against other laws, it is downright disrespectful. E.g., not listening to a concern about public health (e.g., mining can pollute rivers which leads to contaminated drinking water in communities whose fish they eat could also die).

The economy and the environment go hand in hand. It is possible to do a project right by both. You have to just do the proper preparation work before starting the project. Not understanding the full impacts of a project (e.g., by eliminating environmental assessments, which Bill 5 would also do) could lead to more costs, delays, and other negative impacts in the end.

This proposal has no purpose clause. It is just a blanket policy to allow projects to go through. There is no process in this proposal for Cabinet/Minister to follow. How is the public supposed to trust the government has their best interests at heart when there's no procedure and no criteria? This is not in the spirit of transparency.

Once designated, these zones will be exempted from ANY law (e.g., health and safety, environmental law which exist for health and safety among other reasons). Laws exist for reasons and should not be exempted like this, without criteria. There would be no legislative oversight for projects, which could lead to even more negative impacts if projects are not being carried out properly (e.g., following mitigation measures set out by environmental assessments).

This proposal could overstep laws and jurisdictions of others, e.g., municipalities and Indigenous communities. How would you like it if someone just decided to build a mine in your backyard without asking you? That's what this proposal will do.

I don't understand how a proposal like this should be allowed to pass when it doesn't specify what will happen. Cabinet/Minister needs to be held accountable, which is what the law does. Law shouldn't be changed just to benefit industry/profit. If we take care of our planet, people can thrive, and profit can happen. Focusing only on profit can result in unhealthy people and an unhealthy planet with no chance for further profit in the future. I ask this proposal be denied for current and future generations. We need to learn from history. E.g., there was a rebellion in the 1830s because Cabinet wasn't being accountable - are we going back 200 years?

Not only is this proposal a bad action, but it's being done in a bad way. The Ontario government releasing this proposal on day before a long weekend, hidden in Bill 5, along with other laws, without advertising it so public can comment, and moving it through Cabinet without waiting for the comment period to be over is in the spirit of hiding something. Again, this is not what a good government does.

I ask that public wants/needs be taken into account. Animals and plants deserve to live here too and not lose their habitat just because industry wants to profit. Animals and plants also benefit humans in numerous direct and indirect ways (e.g., they polliante our food). Humans are a part of nature. We cannot keep destroying it. Canada can do better. I expect this proposal from Trump, sadly I expect it from Ford too, but that doesn't make it right. Thank you for listening. I'm sure environmental organizations can make my points better, but I hope you listen to citizens too.