Kanisha Acharya-Patel, Staff Lawyer
As you likely know, Bill 5 (Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025) was passed earlier this year, granting the government sweeping powers to override environmental protections, Indigenous rights, and the rights of the public, all under the guise of protecting Ontario’s economy. For more information on Bill 5, please see LAND’s press release and legal analysis of Bill 5, as well as the press release of the Friends of the Attawapiskat River, an Indigenous grassroots advocacy group from Treaty 9.
Your voice matters
The government is now moving ahead with implementing Bill 5 and now is a key moment to speak out. The government has released several proposals on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) for the public to review and comment.
We strongly encourage you to share your views with the province via the ERO. Remember, whether it’s one sentence or 10 pages, sharing your concerns shows the government that you care, and that Ontario’s continued attempts to evict Indigenous rights and nature from law won’t go unnoticed.
Access our new legal resources
To assist, we have drafted three briefing notes that you are welcome to draw on:
- Upholding the rule of law – Responding to Ontario’s Proposed Regulation to Designate Special Economic Zones Criteria
Ontario’s proposed regulation setting out criteria to designate ‘Special Economic Zones’ grants the government highly discretionary power to override legal safeguards that are key to protecting Indigenous rights, nature, and the public interest.
- Respecting Indigenous Cultural Sovereignty – Responding to Ontario’s Proposed Regulation to Exempt Sites from Archaeological AssessmentOntario’s proposed regulation to exempt projects from undergoing archaeological assessment threatens the protection of cultural heritage, jeopardizing Indigenous cultural sovereignty and evading the Crown’s constitutional duty to consult.
- Protecting Biodiversity and Environmental Rights – Responding to Ontario’s proposals under the Species Conservation Act, 2025Ontario’s proposed regulations and guidelines under the new Species Conservation Act, 2025 would further weaken the protection of species at risk and their habitats, and remove the public’s right to have a say in decisions that will have serious ecological impacts.
Please SHARE these resources. You are welcome to rely on them and endorse our concerns and recommendations in your comments to the province.
How to comment
We have compiled all of the links for you below, so you can easily read the proposals and submit a comment:
- Proposed Regulation to Designate Special Economic Zones
Submit comments by November 16, 2025, at 11:59pm EST - Proposed Regulation to Exempt Sites from Archaeological Assessment
Submit comments by November 16, 2025, at 11:59pm EST - Proposals under the Species Conservation Act, 2025 (SCA):
- Proposed regulations and amendments to enable the SCA
Submit comments by November 10, 2025, at 11:59pm EST - Proposed guidelines to assess impacts on species
Submit comments by November 10, 2025, at 11:59pm EST
- Proposed regulations and amendments to enable the SCA
Other ways to take action against Bill 5
- Add your name to this petition, urging the government to repeal Bill 5
- Subscribe to our mailing list and follow us on Instagram (@naturesdefence), Facebook (@legaladvocates), and LinkedIn for updates and take action alerts
- Donate to our legal defence fund to support our litigation efforts against Bill 5
Questions?
You are welcome to reach out to us at info@naturesdefence.ca