Joint Statement on Ontario Bill 5
Joint Statement on Ontario Bill 5: A Call to Protect Ontario’s Biodiversity and Support Local Leadership
The Georgian Bay Association, Georgian Bay Forever, and the Georgian Bay Land Trust jointly urge you to voice your concerns about the proposed Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, as it stands.
This omnibus legislation dismantles key parts of Ontario’s environmental protections and calls into question the province’s commitment to its obligation to engage and consult with First Nations and Indigenous communities.
While we support the need to grow the Ontario Economy through responsible regional development, Bill 5 proposes sweeping deregulation that would threaten the health of Georgian Bay and undermine essential environmental protections across the province. Some provisions in the bill raise particular concerns, including:
Replace the Endangered Species Act with a much weaker and more political framework and abandon long-term goals such as recovery and stewardship for protected species
Allow development projects in “Special Economic Zones” to proceed without environmental assessments, municipal by-laws, or existing Ontario laws.
Allow development to begin immediately after online registration rather than after environmental review
Alter the Heritage Act to exempt projects from archaeological assessment
This is especially alarming for the Georgian Bay watershed because it is a world-class, UNESCO-designated biosphere, home to more than 50 species at risk. This irreplaceable refuge is also a diverse economy where healthy ecosystems support valuable tourism, recreation, and fisheries.
This legislation removes valuable opportunities for developers to consult with those most directly affected by development. It ignores potential losses to Indigenous cultural heritage in Ontario, and we recognize the Chiefs of Ontario’s public expressions of concern with Bill 5.
Bill 5 would make it easy to ignore local knowledge and experience that matters so much in creating strong economies. Georgian Bay’s local leaders are working hard and thoughtfully in their communities to develop this region for the long haul. For example, the creation of the Township of the Archipelago was specially designed to serve people living in this unique landscape, and it is extremely successful. The town of Collingwood was one of the first areas to be taken off the list of the International Joint Commission’s Areas of Concern, thanks to local organizing and leadership. Collingwood is a thriving municipality with a healthy harbour; these don’t need to be either/or equations.
For these reasons, we urge the Government of Ontario to heed the concerns of environmental leaders and revise Bill 5 to protect biodiversity and respect local and Indigenous leadership.
Please send a letter to your MPP about Bill 5. Ask them to stand up for evidence-based environmental protection and meaningful consultation with Ontario communities. It only takes a few minutes, and your voice can make a real difference.
Signed,
David Sweetnam
Executive Director, Georgian Bay Forever
Meredith Denning
Executive Director, Georgian Bay Association
Andrew Young
Executive Director, Georgian Bay Land Trust
