Kitchener passes motion pushing back on province’s controversial Bill 5 – CBC

Aug 27, 2025

Without motion, Bill 5 could disrupt city revenue, environment, and omit Indigenous voices, says councillor

Kitchener city council unanimously passed a motion calling on the province to alter how it implements its controversial Bill 5.

Bill 5, also called the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, empowers the government (among other things) to create special economic zones (SEZ), where cabinet can exempt companies or projects from having to comply with any provincial law, provincial regulation or municipal bylaw.

The bill has seen pushback from environmentalists who say Bill 5 could cause irreparable damage to existing ecosystems and the loss of Indigenous and historical artifacts, and Indigenous groups who say it endangers First Nations’ rights to self-determination and ways of life.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kitchener-push-back-ontario-bill-5-1.7618321