I strongly oppose this new…

I strongly oppose this new legislation, which not only dismantles essential protections for endangered wildlife and ecosystems, but also disregards the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous communities. This bill represents a profound failure of responsible governance. It ignores the urgent environmental challenges we face, undermines science-based conservation efforts, and violates the principles of meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples as required by both Canadian law and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Our natural heritage and the rights of Indigenous Peoples are not obstacles to development—they are foundational to a just and sustainable future. Any legislation that affects land, water, and biodiversity must be developed transparently and collaboratively, with full participation from Indigenous nations and impacted communities. This bill does the exact opposite.

I urge this government to withdraw this legislation and engage in genuine consultation with Indigenous leaders, scientists, environmental experts, and the public. Protecting endangered species is not optional—it is our moral and legal obligation.

The statement made that “The government would also have discretion to remove protected species from the list” in reference to the COSSARO is downright absurd and undermines due processes in place that ensure the safety of endangered and at risk species. By allowing the government the authority to dictate what species are on this list, conflicts of interest become unavoidable when dealing with protected land. COSSARO should have sole ownership and final say on what species are on the list, this is non-negotiable.

I absolutely oppose the exclusion of the SARA species protections in the proposed Species Conservation Act 2025. This “removal of duplicate federal legislation” showcases the blatant disregard this Provincial government has for the protection of endangered aquatic species and migratory birds. It provides developers a workaround for due processes in ensuring endangered species are protected, and allows them to point to the proposed Species Conservation Act 2025 and justify the steps they have taken to “move projects forward in a more efficient and cost-effective manner”.

Overall, this proposal is a slap in the face to Ontario and its citizens who value the biodiversity of our great province. Removing the requirement for the government to develop recovery products for species, removing the requirement for registration/permits for the impacts on migratory birds and aquatic species, and proposing giving the government power to dictate what species are on the SARO list, are an amalgamation of proposed changes that showcase that the beauty and diversity of our province are not the priority of this provincial government.