The proposed changes to…

The proposed changes to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) are an absolute travesty, putting short-term economic development ahead of long-term environmental health.

Humans need to protect endangered species not because we like animals, but because the future of the human species depends on the health of the planet, which depends on protecting habitat that is crucial to protecting biodiversity. The amendments weaken habitat protection for endangered species by allowing greater ministerial discretion, delaying automatic habitat protection, and creating mechanisms that enable developers to destroy critical habitats in exchange for financial contributions.

These changes undermine the purpose of the ESA, which is to prevent extinction and promote the recovery of species at risk. By allowing economic considerations to override science-based decision-making, the government is compromising the survival of Ontario’s most vulnerable wildlife. The consequences will be irreversible.

The erosion of independent scientific oversight raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability. Ontario has a legal and moral responsibility to safeguard its natural heritage for future generations. These proposed changes fail to meet that responsibility. We need to make environmental protection stronger, not weaker.