I strongly, adamantly oppose…

I strongly, adamantly oppose and condemn the Special Economic Zones framework because it falsely masquerades as strengthening the province's economy in the absence of "pesky governmental restrictions" while opening the floodgates for blatant corruption, where the premier and provincial government get to decide who is and is not subjected to proper regulations. This, firstly, creates an environment ripe for bribes where companies can "pay to play," adding to the already blatant corruption characterizing this provincial government (e.g., Therme spa corruption scandal and destruction of a public and natural treasure in Ontario Place). Second, this proposal endangers the environment, Indigenous peoples, and the Ontario public at large. It renders environmental protections and Indigenous sovereignty "optional" considerations that corporations can respect or choose not to, based solely on the closeness of their relationship to the premier. This is egregious, particularly in a province which represents one of the richest, most fertile, abundant, biodiverse regions on the planet, with crucial resources such as our fresh water Great Lakes and our forests that must be protected at all costs to protect and ensure the health and well being of people and wildlife in the present and the future. In short, the SEZ framework is an insult and a disrespect to all Ontarians, as it has deceived the public by falsely promising to strengthen the economy. The only way the economy can be supported is by investing in our communities and every-day people rather than selling our land and resources to billionaires and large corporations. Those who support the SEZ framework in spite of these facts should be ashamed.