Now That Bill 5 Is Law, What Will Doug Ford Do With It?
Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford now has new powers after his government passed Bill 5, officially called the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. The law lets the government create special economic zones — areas where it can ignore provincial and municipal laws to speed up major projects.
Ford says this is to help Ontario’s economy and move faster on things like mines, roads, and energy projects — especially with pressure from things like U.S. tariffs. He says the government won’t ignore things like minimum wage or labour laws, but the way the law is written means it could ignore almost any law — including environmental or health rules — if it wanted to.
When asked exactly which laws might be bypassed, Ford didn’t give any clear answers. “I just want to speed up the process,” he said. He mentioned how long it takes to get a mine up and running, and how Bill 5 will cut that process in half — from four years to two.
Ring of Fire: The First Target
Ford wants Ontario’s first special zone to be in the Ring of Fire, a large mineral-rich area in northern Ontario, within Treaty 9 territory. It’s known for having key minerals like nickel and lithium that are important for things like batteries and electronics.
Ford says he won’t move ahead without talking to First Nations. His Energy and Mines Minister, Stephen Lecce, says those conversations are already happening and will continue.
But many First Nations leaders are skeptical. They say they weren’t consulted before the law passed and are worried about their treaty rights and the impact on the land, water, and animals. The Chiefs of Ontario have invited Ford to speak at their meeting in mid-June to start real talks. They’ve also warned that they may resist the law in court and through protests.
What Happens Next?
Ford hopes the federal government will support the Ring of Fire as a “nation-building project.” He gave a list of big ideas to Prime Minister Mark Carney — including new nuclear plants, a deep-sea port, and more public transit. Carney asked each premier to bring forward their top projects for federal support, but hasn’t decided yet which ones to fund or fast-track.
Ford joked that Carney is like Santa Claus — the premiers have sent their “wish lists,” and now they wait to see what they’ll get.
If Carney chooses any of Ford’s projects, it’s likely Bill 5 will be used to speed them up in Ontario.
More Questions Ahead
There are still many unknowns about how the Ford government will use its new powers. For example, it now has the ability to ignore decisions made by Ontario’s scientists about protecting endangered animals. Conservation groups are expected to fight back if that happens.
One local example already showing this tension is in the town of Dresden in southwestern Ontario. A landfill expansion project there no longer needs a full environmental review because of Bill 5. While the company behind the landfill is happy to move forward, local residents say they won’t stop fighting to protect their community.
What’s the Goal?
Ford and his ministers say Bill 5 is about making Ontario more attractive to global investors. Economic Minister Vic Fedeli says there’s a lot of money around the world just waiting for the right place to invest — and with Bill 5, Ontario wants to be that place.
But critics argue the law gives too much power to the government, with not enough oversight or consultation — especially with First Nations and environmental experts.
