I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed regulatory framework under Ontario’s Special Economic
Zones Act, 2025 (Bill 5). The draft regulation fails to establish necessary safeguards to
ensure transparency, environmental protection, or democratic accountability. Instead, it
grants sweeping discretionary powers to Cabinet and individual Ministers to bypass
critical laws, regulations, and public oversight.
This framework would allow the government to:
 Declare SEZs in virtually any part of Ontario based solely on subjective criteria.
 Hand-pick “trusted proponents” without independent oversight or public input.
 Exempt select projects from environmental, health, and safety laws—without
clear justification or evidence that risks have been adequately mitigated.
 Disregard the duty to consult Indigenous Nations and uphold their rights, despite
feedback explicitly calling for meaningful engagement and respect for Indigenous
jurisdiction.
Environmental protection and public participation are not barriers to economic growth;
they are foundational to a just and sustainable future. This regulation would strip away
those foundations and put Ontario’s natural resources, communities, and democratic
processes at risk.
I urge the government to withdraw this regulation and halt implementation of SEZs until
a new framework is developed, one that centres environmental integrity, Indigenous
rights, and meaningful public oversight.