My comments are below, as…

My comments are below, as they pertain to the specifics of the proposed Special Economic Zones Act, 2025.

Proposal summary
"The ministry is proposing a new law called the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025. If it gets approved, the Ontario government will be able to designate special areas that are critical to Ontario’s economy and security, where selected projects could move faster as a result of simplified rules, faster approvals, and one-window access to services."

This is an undemocratic approach to economic development in Ontario, that would limit public engagement, Indigenous rights, and species protections at the expense of development.

Special Economic Zones
"Once a zone is set up, vetted projects in the zone with reliable proponents that meet high standards for operation, safety, and the environment can benefit from things like:

faster permitting
streamlining some permits and approvals
simplified requirements
priority access to one-window services"

This is a terrible approach for Ontario. Who will be vetting these proponents for their "high standards of operation"? If it would be the Ontario government, then it would seem that "Doug Ford's friends" would be the approved entities to proceed without adequate social or environmental considerations.

The proposed Special Economic Zones Act, 2025 gives unprecedented power to the Ontario government to make decisions that override local, Indigenous, and scientific engagement, and can be established at the whims of the Ontario government. Instead, Ontario needs a more balanced approach to decision making in line with regional and municipal official plans, Indigenous rights, and environmental protections. The Ontario government should not be permitted to have this level of power of decision making.