Petition to repeal of projects bill presented at Queen’s Park

Environmental and labour groups are stepping up the fight against legislation designed to fast-track development.

They have presented the Ford goverment with a petition calling for the repeal of Bill 5.

The legislation passed in June, with several First Nations leaders and others saying it tramples their rights and the government’s duty to consult.

Environmental groups see Bill 5 as giving provincial ministers unchecked powers, and the ability to remove safeguards intended to keep the goverment accountable.

“Strong economies depend on stable rules, reliable planning, and trust of citizens and investors alike,” says Andres Jimenez, executive director for Ontario Nature.

“Environmental protections, democratic processes, and Indigenous rights are not barriers to growth. They are what make Ontario a dependable place to build a business, enjoy nature, raise a family, and invest in the future.”

Kanisha Acharya Patel, a staff lawyer with Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defense (LAND) says processes such as environmental assessments and public consultation are in place for a areason, and Bill 5 sends the message that the government is above the law.

“And allowing the government to disregard them sets a very dangerous precedent for decisions to be made without transparency and accountability,” says Acharya-Patel.

“We will not let the Ford government delegitimize our very reasonable concerns by calling us radical environmentalists. As lawyers and allies to Indigenous land protectors, we remain steadfast in our claim that overriding human health and environmental health to advance economic interests is unacceptable.”

She adds the area where the Ring of Fire mining area hold culutral and ecological significance and should be protected not developed.