As you may know, the Ontario government is seeking to make sweeping, regressive amendments to provincial laws under Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. This bill will have detrimental impacts on Indigenous rights, environmental health, wildlife protection, and our rights to participate in government decision-making. On top of that, Bill 5 makes it nearly impossible to bring a legal challenge against the government for anything “directly or indirectly” related to anything “done or not done” under the Act or future regulations, meaning that the provincial government will be shielded from public scrutiny and accountability.
For more information about Bill 5, check out LAND’s press release and the press release by our client, the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, an Indigenous grassroots advocacy group dedicated to the protection of Treaty 9 lands and waters. For a more detailed analysis of the bill, you’re welcome to read our Legal Brief on Bill 5.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS
As Bill 5 contains many environmentally harmful proposals, the proposals were required to be posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, so that the public could exercise their right to participate in government decision-making that may impact the environment. Check out our blog post for more information about these proposals, and to see LAND’s comments. Despite our request to extend the public comment period so more people could participate, the public comment period closed on May 17, 2025.
But there’s still time to have a say.
You have until 6pm EST on May 26, 2025 to submit written comments (either via mail or through an online submission form) to the Standing Committee on the Interior, a group of MPPs who have been tasked with studying Bill 5 before it can go to third reading and become law (click here for a refresher on how a bill becomes a law in Ontario).
Part of the Standing Committee’s role in studying Bill 5 is considering the perspectives of members of the public to get a fuller picture of the potential impacts of the bill. Whether it’s one sentence or 100 pages, submitting a comment shows the government that people care, people are concerned, and Bill 5’s attempt to evict Indigenous rights and nature from law won’t go unnoticed. You are also welcome to endorse LAND’s submission in your comments, and contact us at info@naturesdefence.ca if you have questions about the submission process.
The Standing Committee will also be holding two public hearings, to hear testimony from environmental organizations, First Nations, Indigenous organizations, and industry. The first hearing is on May 22, 2025 and the second is on May 26, 2025.
Michel Koostachin, the Founder of our Indigenous grassroots client the Friends of the Attawapiskat River will be testifying at around 2pm on May 26, 2025, with support from LAND.
We encourage you to tune to the public hearings, live streamed on the Ontario Legislative Assembly’s website:
May 22, 2025 from 10am-5pm EST in Committee Room 151
See the agenda here and watch it live!
List of speakers:
- 10-11am: Minister of Energy and Mines
- 11am-12pm: Ontario Mining Association, Sandy Lake First Nation, Toronto Zoo
- 1-2pm: IAMGOLD Corporation, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Municipality of Chatham-Kent
- 2-3pm: Christopher Moonias, Anishinabek Nation, Energy Storage Canada
- 3-4pm: Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, Walpole Island First Nation/Bkejwanong Unceded Territory, Kinross Gold
- 4-5pm: Timmins Chamber of Commerce, Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
May 26, 2025 from 9am-6pm EST in Committee Room 1
See the agenda here and watch it live!
List of speakers:
- 9-10am: Chiefs of Ontario, Mushkegowuk Council, Conservation Ontario
- 1-2pm: MineConnect Supply and Services, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
- 2-3pm: Ecojustice Canada, the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, Vale Base Metals
- 3-4pm: Ontario Nature, Rock Tech Lithium Inc., Evolution Mining
- 4-5pm: Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, Neskantaga First Nation, Wildlands League
- 5-6pm: Bruce Power, Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Nuvation energy
You can also attend the hearings in person at Queen’s Park (111 Wellesley St. W) on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
HERE’S WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO
- Take action against Bill 5 – Send a message to your MPP demanding its full withdrawal, and encourage your friends and family to do the same!
- Add your name to the Friends of the Attawapiskat River’s Protection Declaration, calling for the protection of their lands and waters from resource extraction
- Follow us on facebook and instagram (@naturesdefence) for updates on Bill 5, and share our posts with the hashtag #StopBill5, to raise awareness!
- Donate, to help us push back against Bill 5!