I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed repeal of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and its replacement with the Species Conservation Act, 2025 as outlined in Bill 5.

The current Endangered Species Act is one of Ontario’s most important tools for protecting biodiversity. It ensures that decisions are guided by independent science and that species listed as at risk receive timely and meaningful protection, including automatic listing and habitat safeguards. Replacing this framework with legislation that grants broad discretionary power to a single minister—without the obligation to act on scientific assessments—is deeply concerning.

I am particularly alarmed by:

The elimination of mandatory recovery strategies and government response plans;

The narrowing of habitat definitions that may exclude migration corridors and feeding grounds;

The shift from automatic protections to politically influenced listings;

The weakening of transparency and public consultation mechanisms.

While I understand the need for economic development—especially during uncertain times—this must not come at the irreversible cost of Ontario’s most vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems. A thriving economy and healthy environment are not mutually exclusive. Sustainable growth requires that we preserve the ecological systems we depend on.

I urge the Government of Ontario to withdraw Schedule 12 of Bill 5 and commit to strengthening—not dismantling—science-based species protections.