Bill gives Ford Cabinet powers to override all other provincial laws

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, May 12, 2025

TORONTO – Today, Democracy Watch joined with advocates from treaty rights and environmental organizations at Queen’s Park to oppose the Doug Ford Ontario government’s proposed Bill 5 (especially Schedule 9).

Bill 5 would give the Premier and his cabinet unprecedented control over the province, including the ability to exempt individuals and corporations from provincial and municipal laws and bypass consultation with Indigenous communities.

If passed, Bill 5 would:

•  Allow the premier and cabinet to designate “special economic zones” in which “trusted proponents” would be given the authority to undertake projects without regard to provincial and municipal laws;

•  Exempt developments from archeological assessments if the Ontario government is of the opinion that an exemption “could potentially advance one or more of the following provincial priorities”: transit; housing; health and long-term care; other infrastructure; and such other priorities as may be prescribed. Archeological assessments often trigger the duty to consult with Indigenous communities and First Nations governments;

•  Repeal Ontario’s Endangered Species Act – ending most meaningful protections for endangered, threatened and special concern species and their habitat; and

•  Terminate comprehensive environmental assessments for two projects: the proposed Eagle’s Nest mine in Northern Ontario and the proposed Dresden Dump. The environmental assessments for both projects were put into place to provide forward-looking understanding of environmental and socio-economic conditions and impacts of planned developments to government decision-makers, Indigenous communities as well as members of the public.

“The bill is dangerously undemocratic as it proposes to give the Ford cabinet unconstitutional, king-like powers to change any law without a review or vote of approval by Ontario’s legislature, and also proposes to prohibit anyone from going to court to challenge the cabinet’s abuses of power,” said Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch.

“Premier Ford promised to protect Ontario, but Bill 5 breaks that promise,” said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence. “He’s making it easier for his friends to pave over farms, forests and wetlands and wipe out endangered species without any guardrails. Just like we did with the Greenbelt, we need to come together to stop his attack.”

Representatives from Archaeological Research Associates Ltd, EcoJustice, GASP, Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence, McCoy Archaeological Services, Ontario Place for All, Ontario Nature, the Toronto Zoo and Wilderness Committee were also at Queen’s Park to voice their opposition to Bill 5.

– 30 –

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch
Tel: (613) 241-5179
Cell: 416-546-3443
Email: [email protected]

Democracy Watch’s Stop PM/Premier Power Abuses Campaign