Environmental groups, Indigenous councils, and municipalities are united in opposition to Bill 5, which was introduced in the legislature on April 17th. It weakens protections for endangered species, regulation of the mining industry, and preservation of archeological heritage, among other things. 

Chief Donald Maracle submitted an official response from the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte to Premier Ford, stating, “permitting and approval processes are crucial in assessing the potential negative environmental impact of a project, and the process requires essential education to ensure projects are carried out with minimal impact.”

The letter calls for the government to engage with First Nations leadership across the province to revise the bill in response to their concerns.

The Bill amends nine acts that regulate 
energy, mining, 
heritage, and the 
environment. It also enacts new legislation called the Special 
Economic Zones Act.

Councillor MacNaughton forwarded a motion at the May 27 Council Meeting to urge the provincial government to clearly define the role of special economic zones, remove those elements of the bill that weaken environmental protections, and stand in solidarity with Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

“We’re undermining our responsibilities to our First Nations neighbours,” she said. “We won’t be able to help them protect their access if the legislation goes forward as is.”

The bill passed its second reading at Queen’s Park and has moved forward to committee hearings.

Special Mining Zones

The Bill amends nine acts that regulate energy, mining, heritage, and the environment. It also enacts new legislation called the Special Economic Zones Act. 

In the new zones, developers would be exempt from provincial and municipal by-laws and regulations, including assessments of ecological and archaeological threats. 

The act gives the Minister of Energy and Mines the power to select “trusted proponents” or “designated projects” to develop within special economic zones, free from any regulatory by-laws, and it amends the 1990 Mining Act to streamline authorizations for mining companies.

The bill also protects the government, crown corporations and private developers in special economic zones from lawsuits that oppose their activity.

“It leaves Ontarians with fewer avenues to hold polluters accountable, to hold bad faith actors accountable, to ensure that the enshrined rights of our First Nations neighbours remain a law of the land,” said Councillor MacNaughton.

The criteria for such projects are not yet set, but Ontario has already named Northern Ontario’s mineral-rich Ring of Fire region as its first Special Economic Zone, indicating the type of development the Ford government is hoping to “unleash.”

The Ford government says the legislation is a response to President Trump’s tariffs. “In the face of current Ontario-U.S. trade tensions, it can no longer be business as usual. We are cutting red tape to unlock our critical minerals and unleash our economy to create new jobs and opportunities in the north and across the province,” said the Premier in a press release.

“It looks like an excuse to enrich private business at the expense of Ontarians,” said Councillor MacNaughton.

“I think it’s great to be looking to foster better interprovincial connections; it’s great to encourage ‘buy Canadian’ provisions wherever possible. I think that’s all wonderful,” she said, adding, “I really do believe we have a strong enough country and our government is building strong enough allies that we can strengthen our economy in really responsible and really effective ways without destroying our sensitive habitats.”

The bill replaces the Endangered Species Act from 2007 with the Species Conservation Act, which waters down protections for vulnerable species. 

The authority of the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario, composed of scientists who classify species, will be significantly weakened; the government will be able to override its work and add or remove any species from the list independently. 

At its May 13 meeting, Council endorsed a report from the Environmental Advisory Committee urging the province to maintain the Committee’s authority.

Bill 5 also amends the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act to exempt a private spa redevelopment from being subject to Part II of the Environmental Bill of Rights, which requires public notice on the Environmental Registry of Ontario and opportunities to comment.