Opposition parties successfully delay Ford governments Bill 5 by filibustering [Video]

A rare moment of unity among Ontario’s opposition parties frustrated the Ford government’s attempts to pass its controversial mining legislation — which would create special economic zones where laws do not apply — in the early moments of Thursday morning.

The province is in the midst of passing Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, which it hopes will speed up mining projects and will also make major changes to the laws governing protected species.

The creation of special economic zones is the part of the legislation which has led to the most backlash — with critics calling it a “power grab.”

On Wednesday, as Bill 5 was subject to a clause-by-clause analysis at a legislative committee, opposition parties united to employ a series of stall, delay and filibuster tactics to try and stop the government from passing the legislation before the spring session ends next week.

The Ontario NDP worked to stack the …