I must protest in the…

I must protest in the strongest possible terme against the potential degradation and destruction of the environment under this proposed legislation.

Protection of Ontario's natural environment is not an optional measure that should be discarded without a thought. A complete disregard for regulation of any so-called special economic zone will definitely invite bad actors to engage in unscrupulous and destructive behaviour with the freedom of no consequences should they engage in it.

The lack of consultation and agreement to work with Indigenous Nations is highly immoral as well. Far too many destructive policies have been enacted in our nation's history that have disproportionately affected the lives of Indigenous peoples without their having a say in the matter or proper recompense when their treaty rights are violated.

I realise public comments are unlikely to reverse the course of such a wide-spanning bill that was clearly written for the express purpose of ignoring environmental protection but this must be said. To create zones of activity that are essentially without regulation is to invite irreversible environmental destruction and will affect generations to come.