I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed interim changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA). The ESA was enacted to provide science-based, legal protection to Ontario’s most vulnerable species and their habitats. Any weakening of its provisions undermines the core purpose of the Act and puts countless species at greater risk of extinction.

The proposed changes appear to prioritize short-term economic or industrial interests over long-term ecological sustainability. Diluting protections—such as altering habitat definitions, weakening automatic protections, or deferring recovery strategies—would be a step backward in our responsibility to conserve biodiversity. These interim measures, even if claimed to be temporary, set a dangerous precedent for how environmental regulation is handled in the province.

Moreover, the lack of comprehensive scientific consultation and limited public engagement in the process of drafting these changes is deeply concerning. Effective species protection requires transparency, Indigenous partnership, and reliance on independent scientific advice—not interim measures that appear rushed or motivated by non-environmental considerations.

Ontario’s natural heritage is a legacy we hold in trust for future generations. I urge the government to reject these proposed changes and instead strengthen the enforcement and implementation of the Endangered Species Act in its original intent.