As both an Indigenous…

As both an Indigenous citizen and a business owner, I extremely oppose Bill 5 and the overreach of power it grants ministers. The most concerning aspect of this bill is the exemptions to the law from the Special Economic Zones Act. To remove the duty to consult is a step backward. Despite attempting to circumvent this requirement in a deceitful manner, if there are no regulations, the duty to consult is not triggered. It doesn't matter how it is phrased to make Toronto officials feel better; it is neglectful to those who live in the region. If this law is put into place, it will be a new chapter of colonization for Ontario.
Not only are Indigenous rights not being respected as directed by UNDRIP and the Canadian constitution, but so are municipalities. The power of what happens on the land must be in the hands of those who live with the decisions and their next generations. Schedule 9 is mainly a loop that offers no clarification except that the Minister and Lieutenant Governor in Council have untold power to make any decision they feel fit, with no other input from other parties. For sub-sections 2, 3, and 4 of Schedule 9, the loop of "item", then "criteria for designation" leaves too much open for anyone with the wrong morals to create devastating changes across Ontario, with no one able to challenge them. Whole communities, from First Nations to municipalities, would have their livelihoods damaged and potentially wiped out, all because of greed from a few people.
It is important to grow our economy and unlock our resource potential, but not at the expense of the health and safety of our land and people.