The following excerpts (in…

The following excerpts (in quotations) are from the webpage: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0391 and I will reference them below.
“The Special Economic Zones Act, 2025 is meant to quickly advance strategically important economic activity and priority projects within designated zones. By building faster and more strategically, Ontario can protect its industries, mitigate the impact of trade disruptions, and ensure the long-term prosperity and security of the economy.”
“The Special Economic Zones Act, 2025 will give government the power to designate zones through regulation if certain criteria are met. A zone will be a geographic area that could include one or more projects of critical or strategic importance. Zones could vary significantly in size, from a small parcel of land to a large area.”
The Special Economic Zones Act, 2025 seeks to give serving politicians too much power. With this power there is too much danger of premiers like Doug Ford acting in their own self-interest and in the interest of their political and corporate friends rather than in the interest of Ontarians. Allowing the Lieutenant Governor in Council to make regulations designating “special economic zones,” and the Minister to make regulations designating “trusted proponents and projects,” is giving them a completely unacceptable amount of power. Governing provincial leaders should not be given the power to exempt a “trusted proponent or designated project from requirements under an Act, regulation or other instrument under an Act.” Who makes the determination that a proponent is "trusted"? Using what criteria? The existing Acts should be respected and abided by, by everyone in the province. Similarly, the government should not be given the power to exempt a “trusted proponent or designated project” from requirements specified in the carefully thought-out by-laws of a municipality or local board. Communities have created those by-laws to protect citizens, and the by-laws should be respected and abided by.
Additionally, rushing into things is never a good idea. That is when errors are made. It is an especially bad idea when we’re talking about the provincial government wanting to make decisions faster, with fewer legal requirements and with less accountability to protect the health and welfare of Ontarians, our wildlife and our environment. Rushing into development projects is a terrible idea which may lead to long-lasting negative consequences for, and impacts on, the population and environment. Development projects of any kind require more forethought, not less.
In the first quote (above), it seems the Doug Ford government is saying that to have a healthy, resilient economy we need to fast track development in the province. This is false. Even fast-tracked development will take time to get up and running so whatever the current state of global trade is, or whatever trade disruptions are taking place, we always need to be planning for the future when trade conditions will be different. If we want sustainable, long-term economic prosperity in Ontario we need leaders who are reflective and thoughtful, who take enough time to make well reasoned and researched decisions. We need leaders who take the time to go through the process of consultation with all affected parties. We need politicians who firmly require companies (“proponents”) to follow all guidelines and laws put in place to ensure that Ontarians have a healthy and thriving environment in which to live, raise our children and pass on to future generations. We don’t need “simpler rules,” we need firm laws and protections in place that cannot be circumvented whenever a government wants. We also need oversight on all development projects to make sure companies are in compliance with all Acts, Laws and By-laws.
In the second quotation above, “zones” are defined as geographical areas ranging in size “from a small parcel of land” to a vague “large area.” This gives the government unacceptably wide latitude in how large an area they can quickly put in the hands of developers. A “zone” may also “include one or more projects.” There are no specifics given on how many projects could be approved in any given zone. Without proper consultations and oversight, this could lead to over-development and unforeseen detrimental consequences for adjoining geographical areas, think domino effect.
The government is looking to remove accountability to the public for their actions. This is undemocratic and should never be allowed. I am completely opposed to this proposed legislation and believe it should be withdrawn immediately.