Premier Ford is attempting to enact a huge power grab on Ontario’s cities and towns, one that would favour developers over community, fast approvals over building good housing for Ontario families, and continued gas dependence over renewable energy.
If Bill 5 and Bill 17 pass, they would tear up provincial and local environmental laws and undermine so much of what For Our Kids believes in. But we still have time to stop this by speaking up as parents and caregivers.
Ontario’s housing crisis is bad - families are feeling the squeeze as much as anyone. But Ford’s plan seems to be to undermine Indigenous rights, pave over green space, overrule communities' plans for their own development, and lock in gas furnaces over efficient heat pumps. Removing the Endangered Species Act is as short-sighted as it gets - our kids learn in school about the interconnectedness of ecosystems.
For Our Kids members are joining a growing coalition of groups who are pushing back on these bills. We can stop this if enough of us speak out.
More info about Bill 5 and Bill 17:
Ontario Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 would repeal the Endangered Species Act, and give “preferred developers” and industry sweeping exemptions to provincial and municipal environmental and zoning laws - these laws would simply not apply, allowing developers to pave wetlands, forests and farms and industry to release pollution into the ecosystem. There are serious concerns it would attempt to override Indigenous rights as well. It would also curtain renewable energy development.
Ontario Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 is an omnibus bill that will remove a substantial amount of local, municipal decision-making on roads, official plans, zoning by-laws, transit-oriented development guidelines and more. If this bill passes, municipalities in Ontario will likely not be able to implement green building policies or similar local development initiatives.
