I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 5 and its proposed amendments to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. These changes threaten to weaken one of the province’s most important tools for protecting biodiversity and safeguarding the future of our most vulnerable wildlife.

Bill 5 prioritizes short-term economic and development interests over long-term ecological sustainability. Provisions that would delay the listing of species, reduce scientific input, or allow more flexibility in granting development permits in critical habitats directly undermine the purpose of the Act. This is especially troubling given the increasing number of species at risk in Ontario — from the Blanding’s turtle to the monarch butterfly — many of which are already hanging by a thread.

Ontario once led the country in science-based conservation policy. Diluting these protections sets a dangerous precedent and signals a retreat from the province’s responsibility to steward its natural environment for current and future generations.

I urge the Ontario government to withdraw Bill 5 and instead strengthen the Endangered Species Act through enhanced funding, independent science, and a firm commitment to habitat protection. The people of Ontario expect their government to defend—not dismantle—our environmental safeguards.