Bill 5 will have ‘disastrous’ effect on workers, says CUPE
One workers’ union is criticising Ontario government’s Bill 5, claiming that it poses a threat against the rights of workers.
In particular, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is blasting Schedule 9 under Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025.
The Schedule enacts the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, allowing the government to create “special economic zones” anywhere in the province.
The Schedule reads: “The Lieutenant Governor in Council is authorized to make regulations exempting a trusted proponent or designated project from requirements under an Act, regulation or other instrument under an Act, including by-laws of a municipality or local board, as those requirements would apply in a special economic zone.
“The Lieutenant Governor in Council is also authorized to make regulations modifying the application of provisions of an Act, regulation or other instrument under an Act, including by-laws of a municipality or local board, as those provisions would apply with respect to a trusted proponent or designated project in a special economic zone.”
Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce believes that Ontarians are in favour of the special economic zone, pointing out that the Progressive Conservatives recently won a majority election victory after a campaign in which they pledged to speed up mining development.
"I think there's an increasing consensus in the country that we want to realize our potential, create jobs and position Canada as a clean energy superpower," he said, according to a CBC report.
Wage growth in Ontario has fallen behind the rest of Canada for more than two decades due to prolonged economic stagnation, according to a previous report from the Fraser Institute.
However, CUPE said that within the special economic zones, the provincial government can “suspend or override all existing laws and regulations around labour conditions, health and safety, and environmental protections, as well as municipal regulations”.
That’s not acceptable, said CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn.
“The effects on workers, families and communities will be disastrous,” he said.
“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.”
Hahn also said that the reason Ford won the recent election was because he vowed to protect workers.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Previously, the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) called on election winners to prioritise the cause of workers amid the current economic climate.
Earlier, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) called for collaboration between the government and local communities for the province to benefit from the fruits of the special economic zones.
“For special economic zones to be successful, it’s vital that they are developed in partnership with local communities,” it said. “Ontario’s municipalities are committed to supporting proactive steps that strengthen our economy. AMO understands that economic prosperity is tied to social, cultural, and environmental prosperity, and AMO is confident that provincial officials and legislators understand that too.”
