I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed amendments to the Endangered Species Act, 2007, and the plan to replace it with the so-called Species Conservation Act, 2025.

These changes prioritize speed and convenience for developers and industry over the survival of Ontario’s most vulnerable species and ecosystems. Shifting to a "registration-first" approach is deeply concerning—it effectively allows potentially harmful activities to begin before proper environmental oversight and scientific evaluation have taken place. This undermines the very purpose of the ESA, which is to provide rigorous, science-based protection for endangered species.

The proposed changes also place too much trust in proponents to self-regulate and comply with regulations, weakening the government's responsibility to enforce strong, preventative protections. While habitat restoration and voluntary initiatives may sound promising, they are not a substitute for enforceable legal protections, and they do little to address the root causes of species decline.

Ontario’s biodiversity is already under immense pressure from habitat loss, climate change, and pollution. Gutting the ESA in the name of "efficiency" sends a clear message: profit and development matter more than the preservation of our natural heritage.

I urge you to withdraw these amendments and instead invest in strengthening the ESA, supporting scientific conservation efforts, and engaging in meaningful consultations with Indigenous communities and environmental experts.

Protecting endangered species should not be seen as a barrier to progress—it is progress.