The name of Bill 5, the…

The name of Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, is Orwellian. It is disturbing. I strongly oppose the intent of Bill 5. This legislation poses a serious threat to Ontario’s natural heritage, democratic processes and Indigenous rights. Yes, the economy is important, but so is the environment. Controls were put in place for a reason. Endangered species cannot speak for themselves, so people who care about them must speak up for them. The people who place the economy ahead of the environment certainly will not speak up to defend endangered species.

Protecting nature should not be thought of as a barrier to economic growth. It should be thought of as a long-term investment in our own health and that of the environment we all depend on. Protecting nature is what truly protects Ontario, now and into the future. Economic development must not be made at the expense of the natural world.

Bill 5 proposes to repeal the Endangered Species Act — one of the few tools we have to protect at-risk wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. Replacing it with vague “goals” and unenforceable measures will lead to the further decline of species already on the brink. This is not modernization. It’s deregulation that puts short-term industrial gain ahead of long-term ecological and community health.

Equally alarming is the creation of “special economic zones” that would allow cabinet to approve major development projects without proper environmental assessment, public input or Indigenous consultation. This short cut for Ford’s friends undermines transparency, accountability and Ontario’s duty to uphold Indigenous rights and treaties.

Ontarians have not asked for weaker protections or less say in decisions that affect the province’s land, water and future. Bill 5 would silence community voices, marginalize science and erase decades of hard-won environmental progress.

I urge the Ontario government to withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety and instead work with environmental experts, Indigenous leaders and the public to strengthen — not dismantle — our systems of environmental protection.

Protecting nature is not a barrier to economic growth. It’s the foundation of a healthy, resilient and just society.