Special Economic Zones (SEZs…

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will vary significantly in size, from a small parcel of land to a large area. Within the SEZ, the Lieutenant Governor can enact regulations to override existing municipal and provincial rules including exemptions from environmental assessments, zoning laws, and species at risk protections - expediting development but greatly reducing transparency and public accountability.
The municipal planning that is is place in the product of years of planning for our communities and should not be second to sprawling plans that do not respect community. These are "law free zones" that will slash oversight, silences local voices, and opens the floodgates to unchecked mining and industrial development.

Even more troubling, this proposed Act includes the ability to designate “trusted proponents” and special projects that fit unknown criteria developed by Cabinet and there are extensive provisions to block court actions and prevent any opposition to these new powers. This is undemocratic and only further distrust for the Provincial government:
*public consultation requirements are reduced or eliminated - decreasing accountability and transparency while reducing or ignoring indigenous consultation requirements, and curtailing public engagement,
*environmental assessments may be bypassed - increasing risks to ecosystems and endangered species,
*power is concentrated at the provincial executive level - weakening and removing oversight mechanisms and local involvement.

Protections are put in place for a purpose and there are far-reaching implications when you override local governments, local laws, environmental protections, public consultation, indigenous engagement, and any sort of transparency to immediately enable rapid development without any oversight, safeguards, or regards to negative community, agricultural, and environmental impacts.
Be part of the solution to protecting Ontario and leaving a better province for our children!