The Ontario government’s…

The Ontario government’s proposed legislation claims to promote economic growth and stability. In reality, it is a Bill that rolls back environmental protections, undermines community-led land use planning, and erodes Indigenous rights. It prioritizes short-term profits over long-term sustainability, political convenience over scientific evidence, and secrecy over public accountability.

Schedule 9 – Special Economic Zones Act
• Creates “zones” where developers can bypass local planning rules and environmental laws.
• Overrides municipal authority, public input, and Indigenous rights.
• Grants Crown immunity to those operating within these zones.

Schedule 9 introduces the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) framework, allowing designated areas to bypass municipal planning authority and environmental laws. SEZs also provide Crown immunity, shielding governments and developers from legal accountability—even in cases of ecological harm or negligence. Moreover, this schedule disregards Indigenous rights by failing to uphold Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, which guarantees consultation and co-management responsibilities.

General Recommendations and Conclusions:
This Act represents a sweeping rollback of environmental protections, reduced public oversight, and disregard for Indigenous governance responsibilities. I urge your government to recognize the importance of environmental values when preparing new legislation. These values have been the driving force behind our current environmental legislation (EPA 1990). Using the tariff argument to trample on environmental values will not resonate with the majority of Ontarians.
It is recommended that the Ontario government withdraw this Bill and bring forward a Bill that is rooted in science, transparency, and respect for the natural systems that support all Ontarians.

Respectfully,
Hon. Deb Schulte