I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 5, as proposed in this registry notice. This legislation poses serious risks to Ontario’s environment, biodiversity, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Ontario is home to over 230 species at risk, some of which are found nowhere else in Canada. Bill 5 would undermine their protection and the integrity of Ontario’s environmental oversight in several key ways:

- It proposes the creation of “special economic zones” where it is unclear what environmental safeguards will apply.

- It would exempt certain projects from environmental assessments, removing vital tools for understanding and mitigating project impacts.

- It seeks to weaken the Endangered Species Act, placing already imperiled species and their habitats at greater risk.

- It reduces oversight of mining and waste projects and fails to uphold the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples, as recognized by Canadian law and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Two of the projects being considered for exemption — the Dresden Landfill and the Eagle’s Nest Mine — are highly contentious and opposed by local Indigenous communities. Proceeding without full environmental assessment and meaningful consultation is unacceptable and inconsistent with legal obligations and ethical governance.

Ontario’s ecosystems provide essential services like clean water, pollination, and climate regulation, which contribute billions to the provincial economy annually. Eroding environmental protection for short-term industrial gain is shortsighted and harmful to future generations.

I urge the Government of Ontario to:

- Withdraw Bill 5 and any plans to implement “regulation-free zones”;

- Uphold and strengthen the Endangered Species Act and environmental assessment processes;

- Respect the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples on projects that may affect their rights and lands;

- And pursue economic development strategies that are environmentally sustainable, legally sound, and socially responsible.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on this proposal.