The Ontario government is…

The Ontario government is proposing major changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007, and many of them reduce protections for at-risk wildlife and give the government more control over decisions.
Key Concerns:
The Act is being gutted at its core. Its very purpose is hollowed out, automatic protections eliminated, and critical oversight tools dismantled. Habitat definitions are deliberately narrowed, expert science is pushed aside, and enforcement mechanisms are weakened to the point of uselessness. In a blatant trade-off, species protection is sacrificed for development convenience—paving the way for irreversible damage and pushing endangered species closer to extinction. This isn’t reform—it’s open-season on what little remains of Ontario’s biodiversity.
Weakened Purpose of the Act: The overall goal of the Act is being changed, which could shift the focus away from strong protection of species at risk.
Redefining “Habitat” (s. 2(1)): The definition of what counts as a species’ “habitat” is being updated, which could narrow what areas get protected.
Minister Can Delegate Power (s. 2.1): The Minister of the Environment can now hand over their powers to others, potentially reducing oversight.
Listing of Species is No Longer Automatic (s. 7):
Right now, species assessed as endangered or threatened by COSSARO (the expert science committee) must be listed and protected.
Under the changes, the government can choose whether or not to list those species (s. 7(1)).
If a species is removed from the list, its protections immediately end (s. 7(3)).
Immediate Protections Removed: Species that get listed will no longer get automatic, temporary protection while full regulations are developed.
Removal of Response Plans and Agreements: The government will no longer be required to create action plans or agreements to help species recover.
Easier to Approve Harmful Activities (s. 17): The rules are changed so permits to damage or destroy species or their habitats can be granted more easily, with fewer conditions.
Hearings Eliminated (s. 20 & 30): The right to a hearing on certain species-related decisions is being replaced with a more limited appeals process.
End of Species Protection Fund (s. 20.3): The flow of money into the fund used for species recovery is being stopped.
Agency Wind-Down (s. 20.19): The agency that helps implement the Act will be shut down.
New Powers to Demand Info (s. 22.1): People must now answer questions from government officials to check if they’re following the rules.
More Inspections, Less Oversight: Officials can now inspect without a warrant in more cases.
Shift in Enforcement Powers: Stop orders are removed, and new orders like mitigation orders are added, giving more control to the Minister and provincial officers.
Advisory Committees Removed: The Minister is no longer required to set up advisory groups with experts.
Special Regulation Requirements Repealed (s. 57): Rules that made it harder to weaken protections through regulations are gone.
Schedules Repealed: Schedules 1 to 5, which included lists of species and habitat details, are being removed.
In short: Endangered and at-risk species and the avenues to protect them have been dismantled in order to facilitate development.