Your Right to Protect Your Community is Under Threat
Bill 140 could soon become law. Act now to protect your environmental rights.
What is Bill 140?
Bill 140, or the Building Ontario Faster Act, was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on October 27, 2026.
This omnibus bill proposes changes to more than 20 pieces of legislation, including changes that would weaken transparency and public participation in government decisions.
In particular, it would gut key protections under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), stripping away rights Ontarians have relied on for more than 30 years to influence environmental decisions and hold government accountable.
If Bill 140 is enacted it would:
Eliminate your right to be notified and comment on environmental laws, regulations, and polices.
Eliminate your right to request investigations into suspected pollution violations of environmental laws.
Eliminate your right to request reviews of outdated laws and regulations.
Eliminate your right to appeal unreasonable government decisions approving activities that could cause significant environmental harm.
The government is accelerating the passage of Bill 140 through the Legislature, giving Ontarians less time to understand how their rights are being affected and make their voices heard before it becomes law.
Why This Matters
People know their communities best. Their voices are essential to making informed decisions that protect human health and the environment.
The EBR ensures that the public interests and not just private interests are served by government decision-making. It ensures that people with local knowledge can influence the environmental decision-making process and lead to better outcomes. Before the EBR was introduced 30 years ago, environmental decisions in Ontario were largely confined to discussions between government and private proponents. There was little opportunity for affected communities to have their say.
The EBR changed that. It gives you the right to understand and influence government decisions. It gives you the right to participate in decisions that impact you or your community. By bringing the public into decision-making it has helped hold government accountable.
Bill 140 threatens to turn back the clock.
If it is passed, it will shut the door to public participation in environmental decision-making in Ontario.
The probable result will be more pollution, increased environmental degradation, and greater health risks for Ontarians.
Bill 140 should be withdrawn.
TAKEACTION
The government needs to hear from Ontarians now.
Bill 140 is being accelerated through the Legislature.
Written submissions to the Standing Committee on the Interior are due by November 17th at 6 pm while comments will remain open online until November 26th.
Send a written submission to the Standing Committee on the Interior by November 17th at 6 pm. Email: sci@ola.org
Contact your MPP and ask them to oppose Bill 140.
Learn More
CELA is hosting a webinar on November 12th at 12:00 pm to help Ontarians understand Bill 140 and prepare submissions to the government. You can sign up for the webinar here.
CELA has also submitted a detailed analysis of the environmental rights that would be lost if Bill 140 passes. You can read it here.
Action Alert: Your Right to Protect Your Community is Under Threat
ACTION ALERT: BILL 140
Your Right to Protect Your Community is Under Threat
Bill 140 could soon become law. Act now to protect your environmental rights.
What is Bill 140?
Bill 140, or the Building Ontario Faster Act, was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on October 27, 2026.
This omnibus bill proposes changes to more than 20 pieces of legislation, including changes that would weaken transparency and public participation in government decisions.
In particular, it would gut key protections under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), stripping away rights Ontarians have relied on for more than 30 years to influence environmental decisions and hold government accountable.
If Bill 140 is enacted it would:
The government is accelerating the passage of Bill 140 through the Legislature, giving Ontarians less time to understand how their rights are being affected and make their voices heard before it becomes law.
Why This Matters
People know their communities best. Their voices are essential to making informed decisions that protect human health and the environment.
The EBR ensures that the public interests and not just private interests are served by government decision-making. It ensures that people with local knowledge can influence the environmental decision-making process and lead to better outcomes.
Before the EBR was introduced 30 years ago, environmental decisions in Ontario were largely confined to discussions between government and private proponents. There was little opportunity for affected communities to have their say.
The EBR changed that. It gives you the right to understand and influence government decisions. It gives you the right to participate in decisions that impact you or your community. By bringing the public into decision-making it has helped hold government accountable.
Bill 140 threatens to turn back the clock.
If it is passed, it will shut the door to public participation in environmental decision-making in Ontario.
The probable result will be more pollution, increased environmental degradation, and greater health risks for Ontarians.
Bill 140 should be withdrawn.
TAKE ACTION
The government needs to hear from Ontarians now.
Bill 140 is being accelerated through the Legislature.
Written submissions to the Standing Committee on the Interior are due by November 17th at 6 pm while comments will remain open online until November 26th.
There are three ways you can help:
Learn More
CELA is hosting a webinar on November 12th at 12:00 pm to help Ontarians understand Bill 140 and prepare submissions to the government. You can sign up for the webinar here.
CELA has also submitted a detailed analysis of the environmental rights that would be lost if Bill 140 passes. You can read it here.
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