I urge the Ford Government…

I urge the Ford Government to repeal this deeply-flawed bill which undermines democracy, kneecaps the Public's ability to participate in the review of large infrastructure projects, violates Indigenous rights and hollows out existing environmental protections. Key provisions in this Bill are especially egregious including:
1. the repeal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and replacement with a watered down version that limits protection of threatened wildlife to the immediate area surrounding known breeding and nesting sites. This will lead to the extirpation or even extinction of species without access to a wider area of habitat that is necessary to sustain stable populations. Additionally, under the new law, the listing and de-listing of species will be ultimately determined by Cabinet rather than a scientific advisory group (with the fate of species hinging on political rather than scientific-based decisions) .
2. The designation of "Special Economic Zones" that will be exempt from environmental and planning requirements that are enshrined in municipal and provincial law (all in the name to fast-track development without proper environmental or scientific oversight).

With this Bill, Ford is adopting Trump's “development at all costs“ approach that includes eliminating any legal or procedural impediments that may get in the way. I’m hoping Bill 5 will face significant blowback from the public and legal challenges on Constitutional grounds that will force the Government to rescind this anti-democratic legislation.