I have concerns about this…

I have concerns about this bill. Despite being called a "Protect Ontario" act, it in fact *removes* protections for most Ontarians by giving the government and developers power to make decisions without sufficient public input and without considering that you could be killing us by making decisions and plans that ignore damaging effects on water, air, land, and plants.

I am specifically against these aspects of Bill 5:

a) Ignoring Indigenous rights: The bill exempts development from both ecological and archaeological assessments, which risks the destruction of First Nation burial sites, artifacts and lands. Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said in a statement. “Our lands and resources are not for the province to sell, exploit or regulate away as economic corridors, especially without our consent.”

b) Citizens loss of legal protection: Individuals harmed by actions taken under this bill have no recourse, as the bill includes protection against lawsuits for anyone involved in a project within a special economic zone. Developers are protected; Ontarians are not.

c) Killing endangered animals in secret: The gives cabinet (not a committee of scientists, as was previously the case) the power to decide which animals and plants should be protected, and abolishes obligations for the government to create recovery strategies and report on them. Over 100 civil and environmental organizations, including the National Farmers’ Union, Ontario Nature, the Toronto Zoo and various naturalist clubs across the province, are against this. I am as well.

d) Exempting specific development project from environmental reviews: One is Eagle's Nest mine, on Neskantaga First Nation land, who now have no way to give input. The second is a waste disposal facility proposed by York 1 in Chatham-Kent, whose citizens demanded the review. Note that developers of the dump site have donated roughly $200,000 to the Progressive Conservatives, which makes this a clear conflict of interest. Private companies are protected but First Nations and Ontario citizens are not.

e) Erosion of safeguards against mining activity: A new “streamlined approval process for mining” to emphasize “protection of Ontario’s economy” without a commitment to prevent harm to public health and the environment. Mining companies are protected, but Ontarians are not.

f) Exempting Ontario Place from public consultation requirements: This government continues to prioritize a foreign spa company over its own citizens by not allowing us to comment on this project as the law requires. The foreign spa company is protected but Ontarians are not.