I strongly object to this…

I strongly object to this proposal as a direct attack on democracy in Ontario. The concept of "Permit by Registration" removes the long-held guarantee that property holders neighbouring proposed projects will have an opportunity to be heard. Special Economic Zones (SEZ) remove far more long-held guarantees including the basis of our democracy, that our elected governments will always observe the laws. Assurances that labour relations, health and safety and environmental laws will be "respected" are obviously smoke and we definitely don't need more of that. SEZs also allow for the over-riding of municipal bylaws and Official Plans. The Supreme Court of Canada (Spraytech 2001) clearly judged municipalities as "the level of government at which law-making and implementation are often best achieved, being closest to the citizens affected and thus more responsive to their needs, their local distinctiveness and population diversity."
The replacement of the Endangered Species Act with the Species Conservation Act is yet more smoke including as it does, limitations on foundational definitions such as "habitat" and the direct role of experts in determining endangered species. The same applies to the protection of critical farmland under the new SEZ powers.
Throughout this Bill, protective aspects that were previously mandated (indigenous consultation, municipal input, environmental reviews etc.) are reduced to assurances that decisions made behind closed doors by politicians and not experts will continue to observe all the old laws, which of course leaves the question, why Bill 5.
We ask you that question. Why Bill 5 and why turn our slow but effective democratic process into a mockery of democracy and a threat to our future. Many thanks for your consideration.