June 2025
For Our Kids calls on government to immediately withdraw bill C-5
Update: Bill C-5 has passed through parliament, but Senators still need to vote on the bill. Over the next few days, we have a chance to tell Senators we want to see this bill amended to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples, the environment and ensure a more democratic process.
Ready to take action against Bill C-5?
National network of parents demands that Bill C-5 be withdrawn and redrafted
For Our Kids says that controversial bill will harm children and families across Canada if it becomes law
June 17, 2025 | Toronto/ Tkaronto A pan-Canadian network of climate-concerned parents is demanding the immediate withdrawal of Bill C-5, also known as the One Canadian Economy Act. For Our Kids says that Bill C-5 poses a threat to children and families across Canada because it seeks to dismantle essential protections for Indigenous rights, environmental sustainability, and democratic processes. The network calls on the government to immediately withdraw the legislation and redraft it, prioritizing the health and wellbeing of children and families over corporate interests.
“Between political instability, US tariffs, and the worsening climate crisis, it’s a hard time to be a parent,” says Wyanne Sandler, national network director of For Our Kids. “Protecting our kids requires bold political action grounded in environmental sustainability and economic justice. Instead, we’re getting a bill that gives polluters free rein to trample Indigenous rights and destroy the air, lands, and waters that sustain us all. Families in Canada deserve better.”
For Our Kids also criticizes Bill C-5 for allowing the government to expedite projects it deems to be in the national best interest, thus replacing transparent democratic decision-making processes with ones that are opaque and have no room for public input. “At a time when anti-democratic movements are gaining ground across the world, Canada needs more democracy, not less,” says Gabrielle Willms, national organizer for For Our Kids. “It is imperative that the government enshrine our right as Canadians to take part in the decisions that shape our lives.”
The federal government is fast-tracking the passage of Bill C-5; it is expected to pass Parliament by the end of this week and Senate by the end of June. For Our Kids echoes the concerns of other individuals and organizations, including the Assembly of First Nations, who say that this process does not leave enough time for meaningful consultation with affected communities. “The bill itself is sloppily written, indicating that it was drafted quickly and without a careful consideration of what is at stake,” says Ben Losman, communications coordinator for For Our Kids. “This is unacceptable for legislation that promises to dismantle Indigenous sovereignty and Canadian democracy while worsening the climate crisis.”
Despite the threats that Bill C-5 poses, Sandler says that it is not too late to change course. “Federal politicians can actually create an economy that works for all of us – but only if they rewrite C-5 so that it advances a just transition off of fossil fuels, upholds Indigenous sovereignty, and prioritizes our children’s right to grow up on a livable planet.”
For media inquiries and interview requests, contact Wyanne Sandler at [email protected]
About For Our Kids: For Our Kids is a parent-led network of volunteers, driven to take climate action for our kids, grandkids and future generations. For more information, visit https://www.ForOurKids.ca
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