A controversial bill that will revoke a mandated environmental review of a dormant landfill near Dresden has passed third reading at Queen’s Park.
The Ontario government voted to pass the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025” known as Bill 5 on Wednesday, despite significant pushback from environmental groups, First Nations communities, and opposition parties.
Many opponents of Bill 5 have taken issue with the planned creation of so-called special economic zones, where government projects and companies could bypass laws.
As part of the legislation, comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) requirements for a long-dormant landfill at 29831 Irish School Rd. would be removed to fast-track plans to reopen and expand the site for waste processing.
Local residents and Chatham-Kent’s municipal government have opposed plans to develop the site since they were first made public in early 2024.
Dresden Citizens Against Reckless Environmental Disposal (C.A.R.E.D.), a local activist group formed to oppose the landfill development, travelled to Queen’s Park last month to speak out against Bill 5 and ask the premier to revoke the landfill status of the Irish School Road site.
Group Chair Stefan Premdas said the fight against the legislation is not over and it’s “all hands on deck.”
“Dresden C.A.R.E.D. will be in the courts fighting this, along with the opposition and a whole lot of groups across Ontario, to ensure Bill 5 is repealed,” he said. “Obviously, we don’t want to duplicate any actions that anyone is doing so we’re collaborating with the Grand Chiefs of Canada and Ontario, as well as Chief Leela at the Bkejwanong Territory at Walpole Island, and other municipalities across the riding.”
Notably absent from the legislature on Wednesday was Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault, who has also not been present during any other key votes on the Bill.
Pinsonneault released a video on social media in May stating that he did not support the landfill development near Dresden, unlike his colleagues in the PC Party.
Premdas noted that Dresden C.A.R.E.D. has made multiple attempts to meet with Pinsonneault over the last year, but has been unsuccessful.
