Controversial legislation was adopted by the Ontario legislature on Wednesday, June 4, and some local residents continued to demonstrate their opposition outside Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Stéphane Sarrazin’s office on McGill Street in Hawkesbury.
The adoption of Bill 5–the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, means it will become law once signed by the Lieutenant Governor.
Premier Doug Ford’s government introduced the legislation as a way of encouraging economic development following challenges in trade and relations with the United States. The legislation is intended to cut red tape and duplicative processes so it will be easier for major infrastructure and resource development projects to proceed.
The legislation gives the Ontario government the authority to designate Special Economic Zones to help advance projects of provincial importance and security; accelerate mining development in every part of the province; speeding up housing, transit; infrastructure and other projects impacting certain species; establishing a new Species Conservation Program; saving businesses money by eliminating registration fees; protecting critical mineral resources from bad actors; and building a secure energy grid.
Critics of the bill, which include both the Ontario NDP and Liberal parties, First Nations, labour, and environmental organizations, allege the legislation will weaken environmental protection, labour laws, and ignore the interests of Indigenous people.
Brigitte Berubé and Thaila Riden of Vankleek Hill organized the June 4 protest in Hawkesbury. They had previously organized a demonstration against Bill 5 which took place on May 12 in Vankleek Hill.
