Why southwestern Ontario's conservationists worry Bill 5 could erase history and wildlife

Conservationists and archaeologists in Southwestern Ontario are worried that legislation designed to speed up infrastructure development and resource extraction in the province could cause irreparable damage to existing ecosystems and the loss of Indigenous and historical artifacts.

Bill 5, also named the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, was introduced by the Ontario government last month.

If enacted, it would grant the province the ability to create special economic zones where businesses or projects could operate under significantly reduced environmental protections or municipal oversight.  

"Development is important for our province but I don't think we should be sacrificing things like archaeological sites, our heritage or our rare species," said Scarlett Janusas, past-president of the Ontario Marine Heritage Commission.

"These are elements that have no voice of their own, so we as citizens of Ontario need to speak out for them and for their protection."

The Ford government pitched Bill 5 as necessary to developing natural resources in Ontario in response to the threats posed to the province by U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. 

"President Trump wants to destroy our economy, take jobs away from Ontarians and Canadians, and we have to get up and fight like we've never fought before," Premier Doug Ford said in April. "We can't be caught up in red tape and regulations and dilly-dallying around."

In a written statement the province said the bill is focused on creating conditions to allow businesses to confidently invest in Ontario.

"In the face of growing global economic uncertainty and ongoing U.S. tariffs, Ontario must remain competitive in attracting and securing job-creating investments," the statement said. 

One of the environmental protections targeted by Bill 5 is the Endangered Species Act 2007 which identifies and protects species at risk. The act would be replaced by the Species 2025 act, that experts say is a much weaker piece of legislation granting government the ability to decide which species receive protection. 

While speed is of the essence for the province, Windsor naturalist Paul Pratt believes a measured approach is necessary to ensure that major projects do not put irreplaceable natural assets at risk in Southwestern Ontario. 

"I think using the excuse of, 'We can't take care of nature because we need jobs' is a huge fallacy," Pratt said

Pratt has been a conservationist in Southwest Ontario for more than four decades and was active when the Endangered Species Act first became law. He said the act was critical in helping to restore the bald eagle population in Essex County which was decimated by chemical use.

"Their nests basically failed every year because of DDT in their systems," he said. "But with a lot of work and the elimination of DDT and protecting their habitat, they have reached a point where I see bald eagles almost every time I'm out exploring in the county."