Ontario’s Bill 5: Undermining Indigenous rights, species at risk protections in name of growth – Law 360
Law360 Canada (June 10, 2025, 10:21 AM EDT) —
On June 4, 2025, Ontario’s Ford government enacted Bill 5: Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, despite widespread opposition from Indigenous communities, environmental advocates and the broader public. This sweeping omnibus bill amends or enacts 10 different laws, including:
(i) enacting the highly politicized Special Economic Zones Act (SEZA);
(ii) weakening the Endangered Species Act (ESA); and
(iii) introducing the Species Conservation Act (SCA) — an even more watered-down species protection legislation — which will eventually replace the ESA.
The Ford government’s claims that these changes will boost economic growth and accelerate development by cutting red tape are speculative, including development in high-conflict regions like the Ring of Fire. However, what is clear is that Bill 5 undermines Indigenous rights; largely does away with environmental and species protection; and provides the Ontario government with anti-democratic discretionary authorities.
