STOP KILLING OUR NATUAL…

STOP KILLING OUR NATUAL SPACES AND SPECIES!

Dating back to time immemorial and the Indigenous Peoples of this land on Turtle Island, it is absolutely clear that biodiversity matters; without it, we are killing ourselves.

Without complex, vibrant and healthy ecosystems in our city and province, our earth will become further weakened in its ability to resist disease, climate change, invasive species, and more. This has a very direct impact on our economies, especially if we continue to build them based on an extractive model of killing of what we cannot perceive to be valuable in the short-term. Further, without the diversity in our animal, insect and plant populations, you are killing off the very systems that feed our bodies, balance the temperatures and that clean our waters.

I absolute do not believe that the Ford government understands that we do NOT have to pit environment against economics. I beg you, Premier Ford, and your ministers, to please exit the 1500-1800's mentality of a colonial and extractive economy. Evolve your either-or thinking. Realize the remarkable ingenuity of green technologies, the very real possibility that the economy can thrive when both protect our green space, AND when we take courageous leadership in just economies that leverage the talent so readily available here to work with all people of Ontario to set an example to Canada that we can reman steadfastly economically viable AND that we can return to boasting that we are the greenest, most beautiful provinces of this land.

Do what is right for your grandchildren's children. I ask that you STOP Bill 5 — a bill that would repeal Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, weaken environmental protections and hand cabinet the power to fast-track industrial development.

Thank you.