Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025
Sponsored by Lecce, Hon. Stephen · Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2025, chapter 4
- Bill 5 changes multiple Ontario laws to speed up mining, energy and development projects, restrict foreign-sourced goods/services in energy procurement, and replaces endangered species protections with a new species conservation framework.
- It creates a new Special Economic Zones law letting the government exempt chosen projects and proponents from normal legal requirements, and repeals the Endangered Species Act, 2007.
- Directives to IESO for procurement can now set requirements or restrictions based on geographic origin of goods, services, people or entities.
- IESO barred from certain procurement contracts based on geographic origin conditions set by regulation.
- New restrictions on Ontario Power Generation Inc. and its subsidiaries procuring goods/services based on geographic origin.
- Extinguishes certain legal claims against the Crown, IESO, OPG and others connected to these amendments, and bars related lawsuits.
- Changes the Act's purpose and several key definitions, including a new definition of 'habitat'.
- Makes listing species under section 7 discretionary rather than mandatory, and removes temporary protections upon initial listing.