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Rally Against Bill 5 at Queens Park
***Note: This trip will require walking and standing for an extended period of time. Please consider your mobility before booking a spot on the trip.
We need a minimum of 20 people registered in order to send a coach bus to this event.
Deadline to reserve your seat is Sunday, June 1 @ 12:00PM (noon).
To secure your spot on the bus, please contact:
Michelle Toulouse | 705-770-0598 | toulouse_michelle@sagamok.ca
Date: Monday, June 2
Bus Departure: 6:00AM from the MEC Parking Lot
Rally: 1:00PM at Queens Park
Return to Sagamok: ~11:00PM
*A brief stop will be made in Parry Sound on the way to/from Toronto.
Info on Bill 5:
On April 17, 2025, Premier Doug Ford and Minister Stephen Lecce introduced Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025—omnibus legislation intended to reduce regulatory processes across major infrastructure, mining, and resource projects. The bill affects several key Acts, including:
- Ontario Heritage Act
- Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998
- Environmental Assessment Act
- Mining Act
- Environmental Protection Act
- Electricity Act, 1998
- Endangered Species Act, 2007
- Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, 2023
Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, is an omnibus bill that proposes significant changes to various Ontario laws, including those related to environmental protection, mining, and First Nations consultation. It introduces the concept of "special economic zones" where provincial and municipal laws, including environmental regulations, can be suspended. Additionally, it replaces species-at-risk permitting requirements with a registration-first approach.
Bill 5 significantly weakens environmental protections, reduces oversight of mining and development projects, and limits opportunities for First Nations consultation and consent. The legislation allows the Ontario government to bypass critical processes that safeguard species at risk, cultural heritage, and treaty rights particularly in regions like the Ring of Fire. It concentrates decision-making power in the hands of ministers and the Lieutenant Governor without mandating First Nations involvement, threatening sovereignty, land stewardship, and ongoing reconciliation efforts.
Here's a breakdown of the key highlights:
- Special Economic Zones:
Bill 5 allows the province to designate special economic zones where provincial and municipal laws, including environmental regulations, can be suspended to expedite development projects.
- Species-at-Risk Permitting:
It replaces the existing permit process for projects impacting species at risk with a registration-first approach, allowing developers to start work immediately upon registration without environmental reviews or conditions.
- Mining and Development:
The bill streamlines the province's mine permitting process and allows for expedited approvals for certain projects deemed of strategic importance.
- First Nations Consultation:
It limits opportunities for First Nations consultation and consent, potentially impacting treaty rights and reconciliation efforts.
- Environmental Protections:
Bill 5 significantly weakens environmental protections by allowing for the suspension of environmental laws in special economic zones and replacing robust permitting processes with a less stringent registration system.
