I'm deeply concerned about…

I'm deeply concerned about the proposed interim changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and the introduction of the Species Conservation Act, 2025. While the government claims this is about streamlining and efficiency, the reality is that these changes will weaken protections for species that are already struggling to survive.

Relaxing rules through a registration-first system and narrowing habitat definitions will only make it easier for developers to push forward with harmful projects before proper oversight can take place. Once a species' habitat is gone, it’s gone. We don't get a second chance.

Some of my most meaningful memories involve learning to respect nature, my Uncle Fred, a Scout leader, used to take us hiking, fishing, and camping, teaching us the value of protecting the land. That kind of connection shapes who we become. It clearly stuck with me, and I still feel just as strongly today. The youth of tomorrow won’t build memories around parking lots and highways. They need forests, lakes, and living ecosystems to connect with.

We *absolutely* need housing, but not at the expense of our environment. If the province truly wants to speed up development, it should address the bottlenecks in permitting and underfunding of approval agencies, not bulldoze crucial protections. These proposals feel less like balance and more like giving the government and developers unchecked power. After the Greenbelt scandal, it's hard not to see this as yet another move that prioritizes short-term profits over long-term public good.

Please do better. Protect biodiversity. Protect Ontario's future.