Hundreds march through Guelph in protest of Bill 5

GUELPH – A grassroots protest was held in Guelph on May 24 in opposition to Bill 5, or the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act.

The bill is meant to fast-track major energy, infrastructure, mining and landfill projects but opponents say it reduces transparency and public oversight, provides exemptions from provincial laws and regulations and archeological assessments, and reverses Ontario’s Endangered Species Act and replaces it with a new Species Conservation Act with reduced protections.

Hundreds of people attended the Guelph rally, while similar protests were held across Ontario.

In Guelph, the event was supported by Wellington Water Watchers, Seniors for Climate Action Now, Guelph Indigenous Community Council, OPIRG Guelph, eMERGE Guelph, Nature Guelph, the Dublin Street United Church and the Guelph Climate Action network.

According to organizers, “Bill 5 threatens local decision-making, environmental protections, and Indigenous land rights ... If passed, this bill could change the landscape of Guelph and beyond  without public consultation or accountability.”