ActOntarioIn force, not yet used

Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act (Bill 5 (ON))

Ontario omnibus law (Bill 5). It enacts the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, under which the provincial cabinet can designate special economic zones and exempt 'trusted proponents' and 'designated projects' in them from requirements of provincial laws, regulations and municipal by-laws. It also amends the Environmental Assessment Act, Mining Act, Ontario Energy Board Act and other laws to speed up approvals, and enacts a Species Conservation Act, 2025 to replace the Endangered Species Act, 2007 at a date cabinet will set. Introduced on April 17, 2025, it received Royal Assent on June 5, 2025; most of it, including the special economic zones law, took effect that day. First Nations filed a constitutional challenge against it in July 2025.

Stages

Passing a law is not the same as switching it on, and switching it on is not the same as using it. Each stage is dated where known.

1. Introduced 17 April 2025
   Ontario introduces Bill 5, whose Special Economic Zones Act would let cabinet exempt 'trusted proponents' and designated projects in special economic zones from provincial laws, regulations and municipal by-laws
2. Royal Assent 5 June 2025
   Ontario's Bill 5 (Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act) receives Royal Assent: special economic zones and faster approvals for mining and energy projects
3. In force 5 June 2025

Events

• 24 September 2026York1 withdraws its court challenge against Chatham-Kent over the Dresden waste site that Ontario's Bill 5 exempted from environmental assessmentActionCourt rulingOntario2 sources
• 23 July 2026Friends of the Attawapiskat River file Federal Court judicial review of the federal Webequie Supply Road approvalActionCourt rulingOntario2 sources
• 28 May 2026Ontario's Billy Bishop airport land-takeover law passes; province says it 'will soon designate' the airport a special economic zoneActionLegislationOntario2 sources
• 8 April 2026Ecojustice files constitutional challenge to Ontario's special-economic-zone law for Wildlands League, Environmental Defence, Friends of the Earth Canada and Democracy WatchActionCourt rulingOntario1 source
• 30 March 2026Ontario's Species Conservation Act (replacing the repealed Endangered Species Act) comes into forceActionRegulationOntario2 sources
• 23 March 2026Ontario says it will take ownership of city-owned lands at Toronto's Billy Bishop airport and declare the airport a special economic zoneStatementStatementOntario1 source
• 2 March 2026Ford says the Ring of Fire doesn't need Bill 5: 'We don't need it when you have great partners'StatementStatementOntario1 source
• 15 July 2025First Nations file a constitutional challenge to Ontario's Bill 5 (special economic zones) and federal Bill C-5 in the Ontario Superior Court, seeking C$100M and injunctionsActionCourt rulingOntario4 sources
• 5 June 2025Ontario's Bill 5 (Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act) receives Royal Assent: special economic zones and faster approvals for mining and energy projectsActionLegislationOntario5 sources
• 17 April 2025Ontario introduces Bill 5, whose Special Economic Zones Act would let cabinet exempt 'trusted proponents' and designated projects in special economic zones from provincial laws, regulations and municipal by-lawsDocumentLegislationOntario3 sources