The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario is warning of a sweeping power grab by the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford in the form of Bill 5.
Known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 has now passed second reading in the legislature and has moved on to committee. Schedule 9 of the bill allows the province to declare any area a “special economic zone.” Within these zones developers would be allowed to proceed with any sort of project regardless of legislation or local by-laws.
Not only would this bypass important environmental protections, but Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario explains that it would also bypass key labour laws.
“Existing Ontario labour law won’t apply in these special economic zones. Under the cloak of an impending economic crisis and the guise of fighting tariffs, Doug Ford plans on delivering workers to the wild west of working conditions, all to the benefit of big business,” said Hahn in a statement to the media.
There is no limit to the size or criteria of a “special economic zone” as outlined in Bill 5. The zone could be a piece of property, a public lot, a neighbourhood, a city, or an entire region, like Northern Ontario.
The designation of a special economic zone is left to the discretion of the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade with approval from cabinet.
Once a zone is designated, the Minister and cabinet can allow a “trusted proponent” to begin work on a project within the zone.
A trusted proponent can be an individual, private corporation, or a not-for-profit organization.
Some of the projects these trusted proponents can undertake include public sector activities like the building of hospitals and long-term care facilities, or other projects with broader economic, and environmental implications, like mining or other resource extraction.
Tariffs used as excuse for power grab
At the start of 2025, Doug Ford called an early provincial election stating that he needed a new strong mandate to combat the tariffs placed on Canadian goods by US President Donald Trump.
READ MORE: Ontario unions call out Doug Ford’s early election scheme
“Doug Ford won the election by wrapping himself in the flag, naming himself Captain Canada, and claiming he’d defend Ontario workers and Ontario jobs. Now he’s using the tariff wars as camouflage to create the conditions in which corporate greed can flourish unchecked and without fundamental protections like labour rights. You can’t fight for Canada by bringing in laws that copy the very worst of the US laws,” said Hahn.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) likewise condemned Schedule 9 of Bill 5 as an overreach that is unjustifiable at the present time.
“The extraordinary power to circumvent the legislature and existing laws should only be utilized in well defined, exceptional circumstances. Even then, the exercise of such extraordinary emergency powers should be subject to checks and balances—such as clear and exigent statutory thresholds, a temporary duration, and some level of democratic oversight. Schedule 9 fails on all counts,” reads a statement from the CCLA.
Hahn went on to accuse Ford of adopting the characteristics of far-right American extremist politics.
“Ford has adopted the tactics of the most right-wing Republican demagogues. Canada is not and never will be the fifty-first state – and labour and environmental rights are part of what defines us as distinct from the US. These are rights to be strengthened and protected, not disregarded and suspended,” Hahn concluded.
First Nations not consulted on Bill 5
The Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin (RHW), which represents 21 First Nations covered by the 1850 Robinson Huron treaties, condemned the Doug Ford government and Bill 5 for not consulting with them, in violation of their treaty rights.
Furthermore, the RHW explain that the so-called “special economic zones” could allow for the disturbance and violation of Indigenous burial sites and other archaeological areas.
“First Nations are not stakeholders – we are rights holders,” a statement from RHW reads. “Bill 5 disregards our governance, laws, and responsibilities as rights partners. It undermines our inherent jurisdiction over our lands and waters, and violates the spirit and intent of our treaties.”
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
