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WCS Canada comments: Proposed Special Economic Zones Regulation

O'Connor, C. & Ray, J.

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Ontario is proposing a framework in which designated Special Economic Zones would allow certain provincial or municipal laws or processes to be modified or exempted for so-called “trusted” proponents.

Key points

• There is no demonstrable need for a new Special Economic Zones framework. Ontario has not provided evidence of regulatory delays that would justify the creation of a mechanism to grant exemptions from environmental, planning, and municipal laws.
• Both the draft regulation and supporting materials rely heavily on broad, undefined criteria and extensive ministerial discretion, with few requirements for transparency, documentation, or public accountability.
• The framework does not meaningfully integrate Indigenous rights or obligations and does not align with the standards articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) or the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• We’re calling for the withdrawal of the Special Economic Zones framework and strengthened core regulatory processes in Ontario. Durable standards, transparent documentation, and early engagement with Indigenous governments create the certainty needed for efficient decision-making far more than an exemption-based model grounded in broad and poorly defined discretion.

Recommended citation

O'Connor, C. & Ray, J. (2025). WCS Canada comments: Proposed Special Economic Zones Regulation. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada [WCS Canada]. https://wcscanada.org/resources/wcs-canada-comments-proposed-special-economic-zones-regulation/