My summary of why this is…

My summary of why this is deeply troubling:

1. Undermines Science-Based Protections:
It allows politicians to override independent scientific assessments, opening the door to decisions driven by politics or industry, not ecology.

2. Guts Habitat Protections:
By narrowing the legal definition of habitat, it excludes critical ecosystems essential for species survival, making it easier to develop on sensitive land.

3. Enables Harm Before Review:
The “registration-first” approach lets harmful activities begin without prior environmental review, increasing the risk of irreversible damage.

4. Weakens Oversight and Accountability:
Centralizing decision-making in cabinet hands removes transparency and strips away checks and balances that currently exist in the ESA.

5. Dismantles Support for Recovery:
By eliminating conservation funding and agencies, it halts coordinated, expert-driven recovery programs.

In short: it prioritizes short-term economic gain over long-term ecological responsibility, putting species and ecosystems in Ontario at greater risk of extinction.