Bill 5 Schedule 9…

Bill 5 Schedule 9 centralizes decision-making in the hands of the Cabinet and bypasses provincial and municipal legislation. It allows the Premier and Cabinet to hand pick “trusted proponents” to develop projects in designated “Special Economic Zones” that are above the law and prevent community input. This is an affront to our democratic institutions, our environmental protections, Indigenous rights and the protection of our endangered species. It is most concerning as it clearly ignores the responsibility of the Ontario government to make ANY decisions with a climate lens in the face of catastrophic climate change.
Schedule 9 is especially egregious as it allows these handpicked developers in these “special economic zones” to override the Planning Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Highway Traffic Act and the Trespass to Property Act. Bill 5 can override consultation duties with Indigenous Nations. It guts the Environmental Bill of Rights that allows public consultation. It opens the door to Constitutional challenge and reeks of political patronage and backroom deals exposing the Ford government to challenges of corruption and illegal deals. While these battles can be fought in court, the permanent environmental devastation created and allowed by Bill 5 and especially by Schedule 9, will not be reversible putting not just the next generation but this current generation at deep risk.
Bill 5 has been promoted as a crisis response to fast track Ontario’s economy in the face of Trump and the tariffs. Instead, Bill 5 creates what is very much like Executive Powers for Ford and Cabinet. You can’t fight Trump by acting like Trump. This bill is a dangerous abuse of power and should be withdrawn.