I am writing to strongly…

I am writing to strongly oppose Bill 5: the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act and its dangerous proposals, including the creation of Special Economic Zones, the weakening of Ontario’s endangered species protections, ignoring archaeological sites, and the exemption of the Eagle’s Nest mine from an environmental review.

Bill 5 would give the government extreme new powers to ignore laws that protect the public health, Indigenous rights, Ontario's long term economic health, and environment without accountability. This is unacceptable and short sighted

Relative to ERO 025-0418. Exempting "specified provincial priorities" from the legal requirement to protect artifacts and archaeological sites is unethical and puts too much power in the hands of one official who lacks the experience to to ascertain the cultural importance of sacred places to Indigenous peoples. This is a step away from Reconciliation.

The ERO posting states "Examples of where a property might not be considered for an exemption could include: former Indian Residential School sites, burials and significant archaeological sites. MCM plans to consult separately on potential criteria for exemptions" and goes on to identify the inclusion of an immunity provision. It is clear from this wording that this government's default position is that important Indigenous sites are not important and seeks to protect itself from court challenges when it inevitably acts in such a way that Indigenous peoples and Ontarians find morally bankrupt.