On Saturday May 31st Mike Schreiner and Matt Richter held a town hall at the Bracebridge United Church to discuss the implications of “Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025.” This is an omnibus Bill that encompasses 10 Schedules.
1.Electricity, 2. Endangered Species, 3. Environmental Assessment, 4. Environmental Protection, 5. Mining, 6. Ontario Energy Board, 7. Ontario Heritage, 8. Rebuilding Ontario Place, 9. Special Economic Zones, 10. Species Conservation Act.
People are shocked and dismayed when they hear what is in this bill! It is an unprecedented power grab by the Ford Conservative Government. Bill 5 delays green energy production and growth, removes the need for environmental assessments, removes consultation with Indigenous peoples, removes the need for an archaeological assessments and protection of our heritage, removes the assessment for developing new mines, removes the Endangered Species Act and worst of all gives minister the right to create Special Economic Zones. These zones remove all restrictions including local zoning and labour laws as well as all the usual consultations and assessments.
Ford is basing the need for this bill to combat Trump and his tariffs. (Mr. Ford, you can’t defeat Trump, if you act like Trump!)
Greens believe in development with the proper assessments in place. Greens believe in developing new mines based on how to mine well, based on science. Greens believe in the development of wind, solar and hydro energy to produce the electricity we need. Let’s make sure that the development in Ontario includes the best we can do and stop the spread of misinformation.
What is happening? Environmental groups, Indigenous groups, labour lawyers and opposition political parties are doing what they can to oppose Bill 5. People are holding rallies, writing to their MPP’s, signing petitions and some groups are getting ready to go to court.
What can you do? FLOOD THE ZONE! Phone, email and send letters to Graydon Smith. Sign petitions and encourage your neighbours to join you. Have a rally. AND contact your local media and ask them to report on Bill 5 and how it will affect our life here in Parry Sound Muskoka where our livelihood is dependent on the environment.
Send a message to Doug Ford -> The clock is ticking: Stop Bill 5 now