By Abdul Matin Sarfraz / Canada’s National Observer / Local Journalism Initiative, Canada’s National Observer Pressure is mounting on the Ford government to withdraw its controversial Bill 5, as First Nations, environmental advocates, legal experts and opposition parties warn it threatens biodiversity, weakens environmental oversight and undermines Indigenous consultation. Premier Doug Ford says the act is needed to protect Ontario’s economy from US tariffs, but critics argue the government is using trade threats as a pretext to push through legislation that would grant it sweeping, unchecked powers to fast-track development and mining projects with little scrutiny. At the heart of the bill is a provision that allows the provincial cabinet to create “special economic zones,” where selected projects and developers — labelled “trusted proponents” — could be exempt from normal…
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