Last week, Bill 5 – the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 – was passed. Many of you have reached out to us, asking what can be done. We strongly believe that upholding Indigenous rights, Treaty responsibilities and environmental justice demands our response.
Here’s our proposed way forward – together:
Step 1 – Send our NEW call to action letter
We have created a NEW call to action letter urging the Ontario government to repeal Bill 5. Please join us in amplifying our call for Bill 5 to be immediately repealed.
Public pressure works. The Ontario government has a history of repealing other regressive laws when faced with widespread public opposition. This includes reversing Bill 39, that removed lands from the Greenbelt, Bill 28, that prohibited strikes and lockouts by education workers, and Bill 124, that capped annual compensation increases for public sector employees.
Now is the time to reverse course, and repeal Bill 5.
Step 2 – Stand up for access to justice
We must not remain silent when unrestrained and unabashed bills are put forward by our elected officials that undermine legal requirements and government responsibilities to protect the rights of the public, communities and nature.
LAND, together with our Indigenous grassroots client, the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, are considering all avenues to oppose Bill 5 – including legal action challenging its constitutional validity.
The government’s path forward is one that will perpetuate litigation poverty. LAND was founded in 2023 in direct response to this lived reality, recognizing that those who are most affected by environmental injustices are also those burdened with the personal, emotional and financial toll of defending their rights.
As a young organization – having just celebrated our second birthday – we are entirely dependent on your support to fund our pro bono legal advocacy. Large or small – your donation allows us to be there, whether in community or court, for those on the frontlines of environmental injustices.
Step 3 – Stay informed
Bill 5 will have immediate and far-reaching impacts on Indigenous rights and environmental justice.
As we unpack in our legal brief and testimony before the Ontario Legislative Assembly, Bill 5 creates a deeply unpredictable path forward with no clarity as to how Indigenous Peoples’ constitutional and Treaty rights will be respected, or how – if at all – the protections and oversight mandated through Ontario’s many laws and regulations would be of force and effect.
We invite you to share our free, public legal resources with your friends and network. Whether you share our new call to action letter, ‘Get to Know’ legal factsheets or reels on social media – together, we can be advocates for change.
To stay updated as we continue to push back against Bill 5, follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter.
Photo courtesy of Charles Levkoe