I strongly oppose Bill 5,…

I strongly oppose Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act.

Look, as humans, we're not separate from nature. Lots of people like to think the opposite, but we're not. We are animals. What we do affects the world around us- other animals, plants, the dirt, the air we breathe. Sure, we can loose a few species or ruin some dirt. But we never really know where the line is. Getting rid of wolves destroyed Yellowstone. Let's stop playing God with our ecosystem. Just because we were able to reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone, doesn't mean we can reverse all damage we do. And it sure as heck won't be quick. It can be a decades long process.
So let's stop it. Let's stop making our ecosystem a bother or an annoyance. It's our key to life. We should protect it.

Bill 5 proposes to repeal the Endangered Species Act — one of the few tools we have to protect at-risk wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. Replacing it with vague “goals” and unenforceable measures will lead to the further decline of species already on the brink. You can't bring back animals from extinction. The whole dire wolf thing is essentially a dna from of Frankenstein's monster except we had to use some parts from apes because we didn't have enough human parts to use.

Equally alarming is the creation of “special economic zones” that would allow cabinet to approve major development projects without proper environmental assessment, public input or Indigenous consultation. This basically makes the entire concept of environmental assessments a choice. Something a government can do if it feels like it. Maybe to get some good press. What's the point of having laws to protect nature if there's a glaring loop hole that bascially says "but you don't have to if you don't want to"

Ontarians have not asked for weaker protections or for less say in decisions that affect the province’s land, water and future. Bill 5 would silence community voices, marginalize science and erase decades of hard-won environmental progress. It would lead to us further destorying what we depend on, a healthy ecosystem so we can continue living in a habitable province.

I urge the Ontario government to withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety.

Protecting nature is not a barrier to economic growth. It’s the foundation of a healthy, resilient and just society. It's necessary for life.