I am commenting in order to…

I am commenting in order to strongly oppose Bill 5: the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act and its anti-democratic proposals, including the creation of Special Economic Zones, the weakening of Ontario’s endangered species protections, and the exemption of the Eagle’s Nest mine or any resource extraction from an environmental review.

The lack of accountability in Bill 5 will enable circumvention of laws that protect the environment, public health, and Indigenous rights. Accountability to Ontarians in this area of governance should be increased, not decreased.

The Special Economic Zones Act (Schedule 9) would grant unprecedented powers to the Provincial Cabinet and could allow corporations or individuals to avoid any laws and by-laws in entire areas of Ontario. There are no limits, no rules, and no public input. This is not acceptable. Protection must remain province-wide in all circumstances

The new Species Conservation Act (Schedules 2 & 10) strips away real protections for at-risk species and their habitats. The process will leave out science and conservation planning for wildlife. The fox will be left guarding the chicken coop if an ingovernment department is left responsible for oversight. Evaluation of integrity needs to be done at arms length and by accredited public input

The exemption for the Eagle’s Nest mine (Schedule 3) removes the need for a full environmental assessment — ignoring the serious risks to climate-critical peatlands and Indigenous territory. This goes against Canada’s commitments to reconciliation and climate action. Many Indigenous peoples have publically cited this as unacceptable already.

Ontario should not give up any environmental protections or give the Provincial Cabinet unlimited power under any circumstances. When protections are violated and harm results, it can't be undone. Best practices as defined by experts need to be applied everywhere and all the time in Ontario

I urge withdrawal of Bill 5 immediately.

Thank you for your consideration.