FERGUS – Centre Wellington councillor Bronwynne Wilton has signed her name to a letter speaking out against Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act.
And while the bill passed third reading on June 4 amid protests by Indigenous peoples and environmentalists, Wilton still had hope Premier Doug Ford might change his mind after hearing all the objections to the bill.
“It’s very far-reaching,” Wilton said in a phone interview on June 5.
“Some would say overreach.”
The bill makes changes to a vast number of pieces of legislation, many that were put in place to protect endangered species and the environment.
And in many cases, Bill 5 gives power to provincial ministers to expedite or override previous decisions.
The bill also gives the government the power to designate “special economic zones,” which would be exempt from municipal bylaws – all in an effort to spur the economy in the face of tariffs imposed on Canada by American president Donald Trump, officials say.
Critics are calling them “no law” zones and fear the province could use them for any purpose, including highways, nuclear power plants, landfill sites and mining.
Environmentalists and Indigenous communities are particularly appalled at the legislation, as it was passed without consultation and was sped through the legislature before MPPs rose for the summer.
“It’s complete overreach by the province,” Wilton said.
“It weakens protection for species at risk, so local housing proposals might not have to do rigorous assessments.
“It changes the definition of habitat for species; it reduces the ability locally to protect forests and wetlands.
“And it opens the door for less rigorous oversight and environmental protection.”
The letter
The letter to Ford, dated June 4, was signed by Grey Highlands councillor Joel Loughead, West Nipissing councillor Kris Rivard, Waterloo Region District School Board trustee Carla Johnson and Wilton.
All four municipal politicians each ran for the Green Party in the February provincial election.
The letter states, “Our communities are rightfully concerned about the ways in which Bill 5 will:
- impact constitutionally protected Indigenous Treaty Rights;
- concentrate power in Cabinet;
- strip power from municipalities;
- reduce worker rights;
- weaken public participation and democratic oversight; and
- open the door to reckless development that threatens forests, lakes, wetlands and farmland.
“As elected officials, we also share serious concern about the powers granted by Bill 5 to override municipal laws.”
Wilton said the special economic zones are a very real threat and could be placed anywhere in the province, including Centre Wellington.
“It could be industry, it could be a landfill, and the local government would have very little say,” she said.
“It seems the government is choosing the economy over the environment and that’s a false narrative. You can protect the environment and still boost the economy.”
And nearby, Wilton worried that Ford could declare the 770 acres of farmland in Wilmott Township a special economic zone and stop critics in their tracks.
The Region of Waterloo hopes to acquire 770 acres of farmland for a future industrial site.
Wilton noted a number of other bills will be passed this week as well that will have implications for municipalities – among them Bill 17 that changes development charges and one that grants “strong mayor powers.”
“We ask you to immediately withdraw Bill 5 and urge you to take the summer to consult meaningfully with First Nations, municipalities and Ontarians about how to ensure we build Ontario in a sustainabe, responsible and fair way,” the letter concludes.
