Action Alert: Withdraw Bill 5, premier!

Premier Doug Ford says he is standing up to the hostile actions of President Donald Trump. Yet, he is now following in his footsteps, ramming Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025, through the legislature. This extremely dangerous bill allows Premier Ford to grant himself, his government and anyone he chooses – so-called “trusted proponents” – unlimited authority to ignore provincial and municipal law.

By allowing cabinet to designate any part of the province as a “special economic zone,” the bill potentially strips Ontarians and First Nations living in Ontario of labour protections, human rights and treaty rights. Bill 5 also leaves Ontario’s environment and natural species unprotected, exposing our province and people to ecological disaster.

Join us! Call on the premier to withdraw Bill 5 to protect the rights of those living here now and preserve the land for future generations.

In addition to establishing the authority to create lawless “special economic zones” anywhere in the province – hastening such projects as Highway 413 and tunnels under the 401 – Bill 5 also:

• Repeals Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007, ending meaningful protections for endangered, threatened and “special concern” species in Ontario.
• Exempts the Therme Group development at Ontario Place from the Environmental Bill of Rights.

Bill 5 also weakens current laws that allow for the identification and protection of archeological and cultural sites – a step that will undermine the ability of Indigenous Peoples to honour and preserve their heritage. RNAO stands in solidarity with Chiefs of Ontario in their call to the premier to “start over – repeal this bill and work with us to create something that will allow us to ensure our economies thrive in a way that is respectful to our Nations and upholds the honour of the Crown including duty to consult.”

There is no justification for jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of the communities that we all – nurses and politicians, alike – are sworn to serve. The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) have already expressed that such deregulation threatens biodiversity and the ecological systems that support human health. So, join us! Call on the premier to withdraw Bill 5 to protect the rights of those living here now and preserve the land for future generations.