As a resident of Caledon, I…

As a resident of Caledon, I am writing to express my concern about Bill 5: Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. While I understand the importance of economic development, I am concerned about the bill’s overriding of local planning decisions and weakening of fundamental environmental protections.

Caledon is home to diverse wildlife habitats that help regulate floods, regulate extreme climate events, preserve connected wildlife corridors. With all the wildfires in the past few years, eroding such an important climate buffer/mediator would be disastrous.

Our habitats such as the Greenbelt and Credit River Headwaters are not only ecologically significant but also essential to our community’s identity. The creation of “special economic zones” would bypass our current local policies in responsible land-use planning. Our community should not lose its voice in decisions that affect our land, health, and environment.

In addition, removing environmental assessments and replacing mandatory species protections with voluntary measures sets a troubling precedent. These are not just technical changes—they have real consequences for local ecosystems, at-risk wildlife, and the well-being of my future children. The public deserves to be informed and meaningfully involved in shaping these outcomes.

I respectfully ask that decision-makers reconsider this legislation and ensure that local voices, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous rights remain central to Ontario’s planning process.
I also ask to extend the comment periods for all Bill 5 related proposals posted on the Environmental Registry to allow for meaningful public particpation to occur.