I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my shock and opposition to the government's proposal to repeal the Endangered Species Act under Bill 5. The answer to the Trump tariffs or any economic adversity should not be the destruction of Ontario's environment and species at risk. The change in the definition of habitat to one that is so narrow in scope under the so-called Species Conservation Act will only result in massive habitat destruction and the eradication of more species from our province. Large mammals such as grey wolves and moose - which are both in population decline - cannot survive in tiny plots of land fragmented by roads and mining operations. Loss of habitat is cited as the number one reason North America has experienced a loss of 3 billion migratory birds since the 1970's. What the government is propsing here is the equivalent of protecting a person's house wuth a fence, but permitting the total destruction of the neighbourhood surrounding the house to go ahead. A person could not survive that situation and it is insane to pretend other species could. The Government of Ontario has a moral responsibility to act in the best interests of all Ontarians and protect our province's environment and biodiversity by upholding existing legislation, not repealing it to fast track mining development. If this government truly believed repealing the Endangered Species Act was a priority that would be supported by Ontarians, then this should have been transparently and publicly tabled prior to the recent election versus hiding it in an omnibus bill. The Endangered Species Act certainly never prevented Ontario's prosperity before, so it makes no logical sense to repeal it now. We will all be poorer for the long-term environmental destruction and expedited loss of biodiversity Bill 5 will inevitably bring.