May 2025, BILL 5 - Endangered Species Act and Special Economic Zones
If passed, Bill 5 would be an unprecedented attack on the Rule of Law and on Endangered Species protections in Ontario.
"Schedule 9 allows the Ford government to exempt “trusted proponents” and “designated projects” within “special economic zones” from having to comply with provincial and municipal laws. The catch? These three terms can mean pretty much anything, as they are not defined in the Act and are left entirely to Cabinet’s discretion.
This alarming move enables the executive branch of the government to unilaterally do away with legal safeguards that protect vulnerable communities and Indigenous people, paving the way for corporations to bypass labour and environmental laws." - Canadian Civil Liberties Association
"In Ontario we had a rebellion in the 1830s to ensure the Legislature could hold Cabinet accountable. This Bill would effectively reverse that in these places and take us back to the 19th century in terms of how our democracy would be functioning". - Laura Bowman, Lawyer - Ecojustice Canada.
There was so much demand for last week's Bill 5 webinar by Environmental Defence they went beyond their Zoom capacity, so ICYMI you can watch the recording HERE.
Please send a Sunday text message to Doug Ford's cell phone denouncing Bill 5!
647-612-3673
and
CALL YOUR MPP, CALL YOUR MPP, CALL YOUR MPP!
Hamilton contacts are HERE. Please call all the PC MPPs.
Outside Hamilton, find your MPP HERE.
PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS ON THE FOLLOWING EROs.
The ERO posting on the repeal of the Endangered Species Act is open for comment until May 17th.
The ERO Posting on Special Economic Zones is open for comment until May 17th.
RESOURCES
Environmental Defence’s Bill 5 Backgrounder.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association statement
POSTERS AND PAMPHLETS
A grassroots compilation of ways to take action, including printable pamphlets / posters
In the coming days, the most important thing you can do is call MPPs and strongly urge them not to support a bill that would put an end to the rule of law in Ontario.
Even a short call will have an impact. If you don’t like talking to strangers, you can call after hours and leave a message.
Let's flood MPPs voicemails with calls!