A North Bay-based environmental group is adding its voice to those opposing Bill 5, which the government says is aimed at unleashing Ontario’s economy.
Northwatch has submitted a commentary to the province.
“We are disappointed and frustrated at our being excluded from the committee hearing schedule,” says Brennain Lloyd, Northwatch project coordinator. “Bill 5 is a grab bag of deregulation and roll backs of environmental and other protections. If enacted, it will have far reaching environmental and social impacts, particularly in northern Ontario.”
The group says its key concerns include replacing the Endangered Species Act with the proposed Species Conservation Act and the option of designating areas as “Special Economic Zones”.
Northwatch says changes will allow projects to proceed in the habitat of endangered species after simply registering the activity and in most cases, permits would no longer be required.
They add there are no criteria for designating areas as Special Economic Zones, no criteria for vetting projects which would be exempt from regulation, and no criteria for deeming proponents to be “reliable” and also exempt from environmental rules.
