Letting developers register…

Letting developers register online and start right away will speed up projects like housing and transit. But swapping careful science checks for a quick checklist makes it easier to harm endangered plants and animals.

The new law also shrinks the idea of “habitat” so it only means an animal’s immediate home like a den or nest or the small root zone around a plant. Everything outside those tiny spots where animals feed, migrate, and raise their young loses protection. Dropping the ban on “harassing” wildlife makes it even easier for damaging activities to slip through unnoticed.

It would also let the government add or remove species from Ontario’s protected list without waiting for scientific advice from experts. Which is harmful for species at risk. By eliminating required recovery plans, management strategies, and progress reports, Bill 5 erases the deadlines and goals that are crucial for preventing species from dying out.

First Nations communities will be hit hardest. Many rely on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants for food and cultural ceremonies. As fish and wildlife numbers fall, food security worsens, and things like mining and dams cut off access to traditional food sources. Weakening these rules isn’t supporting reconciliation it breaks trust and makes it harder to work together.