On April 17, 2025, the provincial government introduced Bill 5,
titled
Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025
("Bill 5"). This legislative proposal
consists of 10 separate schedules, some proposing minor adjustments
to legislation, and others proposing entirely new regimes. This is
the latest in Ontario's effort to reduce regulatory barriers to
project development and stimulate economic growth.
Ontario's stated purpose for Bill 5 is to protect the
Ontario economy from global economic headwinds by streamlining and
accelerating the permitting and approvals processes for mining and
critical infrastructure projects, protecting the mineral supply
chain and limiting foreign participation in the province's
energy sector.