Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act

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Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025
Coat of Arms of Ontario.svg
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
CitationS.O. 2025, c. 4
Assented to2025-06-05
Legislative history
Bill citationBill 5
Introduced by Stephen Lecce MPP, Minister of Energy and Mines
First reading 2025-04-17
Second reading 2025-04-29 - 2025-06-04
Third reading 2025-06-04
Related legislation
One Canadian Economy Act
Status: Current legislation

The Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 (French : Loi de 2025 pour protéger l’Ontario en libérant son économie) is an act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It is sponsored by Stephen Lecce.

Contents

Legislative passage

Liberal MPPs tabled 4,022 amendments to the bill in the committee stage. [1]

Provisions

Special Economic Zones Act

The act allows the establishment of special economic zones by provincial government ministers, by enacting the Special Economic Zones Act. [2] [3] These zones would be exempt from certain provincial regulations and municipal by-laws. [3]

Amendments to the Mining Act

The approval process under the provincial Mining Act is shortened from 4 years to 2 years. [2]

Endangered Species Act

The provincial Endangered Species Act is replaced with significantly weaker rules. [4] For example, a Caribou habitat is restricted to just a calving site, according to Canada's National Observer. [4]

Ontario Place

The provincial government would be exempted from providing public notice of changes to the Ontario Place redevelopment project. [5]

Expansion of landfill near Dresden

The act approves the proposal for an expansion of a waste-disposal facility near Dresden in southwestern Ontario. [5]

Criticism

Several Treaty 9 First Nations criticized the legislation, saying they would go to court to challenge it, due to the fact that the Ring of Fire area was announced to be the first special economic zone. [6] [7] [8]

The MPP whose riding contains the landfill near Dresden, Steve Pinsonneault, said that he did not support the expansion. [9]

Other developments

Soon after the legislation received royal assent, the Premier, Doug Ford, said that he would be happy to give First Nations in the province what they wanted in return for their support in developing mines. [10] Ford also said that First Nations should not be able to "keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government" for more money. [10] The next day, Ford apologised for his remarks, saying "I sincerely apologize for my words — not only if it hurt all the chiefs in that room, but all First Nations." [11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Callan, Isaac; D'Mello, Colin (June 3, 2025). "Milk Act to Bike Month: How Liberals are trying to slow Bill 5 with 4,000 amendments". Global News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Crawley, Mike (June 8, 2025). "Doug Ford's Bill 5 is now law in Ontario. Here's what happens next". CBC News. Archived from the original on June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Ross, Ian (May 23, 2025). "'This is not us together, this is Ontario by itself,' says Wabun tribal council executive director". Sudbury.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Sarfraz, Abdul Matin (June 18, 2025). "Ford's controversial Bill 5 puts Ontario's at-risk species at even more risk". Canada's National Observer . Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Crawley, Mike (May 25, 2025). "Doug Ford's controversial Bill 5: Here's what you need to know". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 26, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  6. ↑ Syed, Fatima (May 14, 2025). "Bill 5: a guide to Ontario's spring 2025 development and mining legislation". The Narwhal . Archived from the original on May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ Law, Sarah (May 23, 2025). "First Nations leaders in Ontario's Ring of Fire region demand Bill 5 be struck down". CBC News . Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ Callan, Isaac; D'Mello, Colin (June 18, 2025). "On eve of summit with chiefs, Ford says First Nations 'keep coming hat in hand'". Global News. Archived from the original on June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Conservative MPP speaks out on Dresden landfill — and premier trying to fast-track it". CBC News. May 22, 2025 [2025-05-21]. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Doug Ford says he treats First Nations 'like gold' but they 'keep coming hat in hand'". CBC News. June 18, 2025. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  11. ↑ Carter, Adam (June 19, 2025). "Ford apologizes for saying First Nations 'keep coming hat in hand' amid Bill 5 controversy". CBC News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
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