Bill 5 opens Ontario to unfettered development

Editor:

Bill 5 Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 gives full discretionary power to the Premier and Cabinet to declare “Special Economic Zones” where no laws or regulations apply. These zones can be anywhere in Ontario, in any town, provincialpark, farm or wetland. Bill 5 guts protections for the environment and so dilutes protections of habitat in the Species at Risk Act that it will be nothing more than a list of species that are doomed (even getting on the list will be at the Minister’s discretion). New mines and infrastructure projects will be expedited as environmental and public health approvals are swept away. Municipal and provincial regulations and laws do not apply.

Bill 5 represents an abuse of power. It curtails public participation, it enables unfettered and unregulated development by government decree, it threatens indigenous rights, despoils precious ecosystems, eliminates the involvement of experts, and dangerously centralizes power with political ministers who can override what little regulation remains. It also provides immunity from anycomplaint to hold the government and its agents to account.

The government’s cover and rationale is the need to speed up approvals so economic projects can proceed rapidly to deal with the threats from the U.S., but at what cost? Speeding up approvals should not mean gutting essential protections and the rule of law. Bill 5 directly attacks our system of checks and balances, our regulations and our laws, and government’s duty to consult. It opens Ontario up for unfettered development. Bill 5 emulates the lawless tactics being used in the U.S.

Ontario needs to find better ways to build economic opportunities while preserving our environment and protecting our way of life and our communities.

Individuals and groups need to write their local Conservative MPP and any others they know. Only the Conservative MPPs can stop this bill. The Liberals and NDP are already opposed. It is critically important to let your local MPP know you don’t want Bill 5. Phone them, write them, and ask for a meeting. Demand they stop Bill 5. Ontarians deserve better.

Find a briefing on Bill 5 at environmentaldefence. ca/stop-bill-5. To find emails and phone numbers of MPPs, visit www.ola./org/en/members/all.

Lynn Eakin,

Stayner.