Call to action: Climate Action Sarnia Lambton warns Bill 5 would roll back environmental protections

On Thursday, April 17th, the Ontario government introduced Bill 5 – the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act – an unprecedented attack on Ontario’s rule of law. This latest attack is on species at risk, healthy communities, clean energy and the rights of Indigenous peoples – all to benefit handpicked individuals and corporations close […]

On Thursday, April 17th, the Ontario government introduced Bill 5 – the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act – an unprecedented attack on Ontario’s rule of law.

This latest attack is on species at risk, healthy communities, clean energy and the rights of Indigenous peoples – all to benefit handpicked individuals and corporations close to the government.

The government is moving fast! Bill 5 has already passed its second reading, and now it is heading to the Legislative Committee hearings.

If passed, Bill 5 would:

• Repeal Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007, marking the end of meaningful protections for endangered, threatened and special concern species in Ontario.
• Give Premier Ford and his Cabinet powers to give their developer friends or anyone else they choose an exemption from all provincial and municipal laws (including environmental, labour, public safety, heritage and even the Environmental Bill of Rights)
• Keep Ontario dependent on imported fracked gas from the U.S by banning Chinese components in energy projects – shutting the door on clean, affordable wind and solar energy and battery storage.
• Eliminate the Ontario government’s requirement for an environmental assessment of a proposed dump site in Dresden and a mine in northern Ontario.

CASL is encouraging the public to contact Premier Ford and Bob Bailey, MPP to express your concerns.