THUNDER BAY — Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has released a draft regulation proposing criteria for designating “special economic zones” under the Protect Ontario legislation it passed in June.
The proposal was “informed by consultations with Indigenous communities across Ontario,” and its release is intended “to support ongoing consultations,” according to the government.
The Ring of Fire — 8,000 square kilometres of mineral-rich land about 500 km north of Thunder Bay — is one place the government is likely to declare a special economic zone for expedited economic projects.
In a government news release on Oct. 7, Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli said special economic zones “are a critical tool to expedite approvals and move projects of strategic importance forward faster, boosting our economic resilience and delivering lasting prosperity for Ontario workers and businesses.”
“We are steadfast in our commitment to the duty to consult on the implementation of future use of special economic zones, and in working in partnerships with communities and leadership to ensure that new projects support First Nations-led economic development and prosperity,” Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford is quoted as saying in the release.
Rickford is in Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet as minister of Indigenous affairs and First Nations economic reconciliation and minister responsible for Ring of Fire partnerships.
The government states on its website that it “has been receiving and considering thoughtful feedback” from Indigenous communities regarding special economic zones.
At its most basic, the draft regulation sets out in its first section three “criteria that must be met” for a special economic zone: it is a single area of Ontario; it has activities that are “economically significant or strategically important”; and it is no larger than necessary for inclusion as a special zone.
Next, the regulation sets out criteria for designating a person or corporation as a “trusted proponent” of an economic project.
Then it lists criteria for calling something a “designated project” for special economic zone consideration. The criteria includes that a cabinet minister “is of the opinion that the project will have significant long-term economic benefits for Ontario,” and that it’s “likely to succeed.”
Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, passed in the legislature on June 4 and got royal assent to become law the next day.
The most talked-about part of the sprawling legislation is the Special Economic Zones Act, which authorizes the government to create zones in which local and provincial laws can be bypassed for speedy approval of projects.
First Nations opposed that part of the bill and held protests at Queen’s Park as the bill was being pushed through the legislature.
In a committee hearing, Nishinawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler told MPPs the bill was “a direct attack on” First Nations, Treaty 9 and Indigenous children.
The legislation also repealed the Endangered Species Act of 2007 and replaced it with a Species Conservation Act that critics say is weaker.
Its other components include amendments to the Mining Act, Ontario Energy Board Act, Ontario Heritage Act, Environmental Assessment Act and Environmental Protection Act.
