Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025

Creates Special Economic Zones where the provincial government can streamline or suspend certain regulations to attract major investments. Replaces the Endangered Species Act with the Species Conservation Act, introducing new mechanisms for habitat offsetting that allow development on previously protected land.

Environmental groups have raised significant concerns that the new species conservation framework weakens habitat protections and that SEZ powers could be used to bypass environmental review for large projects. The government argues modernised rules will accelerate economic development while still requiring conservation commitments.