As a lifelong Ontario…

As a lifelong Ontario resident and a voter who has supported conservative values in the past, I am deeply disappointed by Bill 5. If this is the direction the Ontario PC Party continues to go, I will not be voting Conservative again for a very long time.

Bill 5 is a slap in the face to anyone who cares about the future of our environment, our communities, and even basic democratic principles. I’ve always believed that conservative values can—and should—coexist with environmental responsibility and respect for Indigenous rights. But this bill makes me question whether the current leadership believes in either.

Let’s be clear: repealing the Endangered Species Act and replacing it with a watered-down version that gives Cabinet—not scientists—the final say is not responsible governance. It’s reckless. Narrowing the definition of protected habitat just to a few select areas ignores the interconnectedness of ecosystems. The decision to push forward “special economic zones” that can bypass environmental and municipal protections is not just undemocratic—it’s dangerous. It looks like a green light for developers at the expense of everyone else.

Even worse, these changes are being pushed without proper Indigenous consultation. That’s unacceptable. This province has a duty to work in good faith with First Nations, and bulldozing ahead with legislation like this without meaningful dialogue shows a disturbing disregard for that duty.

Let’s not forget the timing, either. Right after a polarizing election and while everyone is distracted by news in the U.S.—it feels sneaky. That’s not the transparent, accountable government I was promised.

On top of this, let’s not pretend this is just about environmental policy. This government has already redefined what “affordable housing” means—raising the threshold so high that it’s no longer affordable for regular Ontarians. And scrapping rent control on new builds? How is that helping working families? If you truly care about housing people, you don’t make it more expensive and unstable.

It’s hard not to be reminded of the Greenbelt scandal, where land that was supposed to be protected “forever” was suddenly up for grabs—until public outcry forced a reversal. Doug Ford once called the Greenbelt “a bunch of farmers’ fields and weeds.” Now, with Bill 5, it feels like we’re right back there again. And honestly, how can the Premier spend his weekends enjoying the beauty of Muskoka while pushing policies that destroy nature elsewhere? That’s not just hypocritical—it’s selfish. Everyone doesn’t have the money for fancy Muskoka retreats, shouldn’t current and future generations be able to enjoy some natural beauty where they live?

This bill doesn’t reflect the kind of conservatism I believe in. Responsible governance, respect for the land, meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples, and protecting the natural beauty of Ontario for future generations—those should be conservative values too if this party wants to call themselves ethical.

I strongly oppose Bill 5 and everything it represents. If this passes, the PC Party will lose not just my vote, but the trust of many others like me who once believed they stood for something better.