Bill 5 Introduced
Bill 5, the Protect Ontario By Unleashing Our Economy Act, was introduced to promote economic growth and improve government efficiency by making targeted reforms across various sectors.
It is an omnibus Bill that proposes to amend the following statutes:
- Electricity Act 1998
- Endangered Species Act 2007
- Environmental Assessment Act
- Environmental Protection Act
- Mining Act
- Ontario Energy Board Act 1998
- Ontario Heritage Act
- Rebuilding Ontario Place Act 2023
And if passed, will also enact the following new statutes:
- Special Economic Zones Act 2025
- Species Conservation Act 2025
The bill primarily seeks to address delays and inefficiencies in the political and administrative processes that can hinder economic development.
Among the Bills provisions are the following:
- Under the Mining Act it creates a “one project, one process” permitting model
- It gives the Minister of Energy and Mines new powers to deny the issuance of mining leases and cancel existing claims
- Significantly changes the province’s species at risk framework
- Allows the province to create “special economic zones” in which projects undertaken by “trusted proponents” could receive relief from certain burdensome regulations
- Provides the government with the authority to exempt properties from heritage and archeological requirements
- Places restrictions on procurement by OPG, local utilities, gas distribution companies
