These changes and the…

These changes and the Species Conservation Act would remove “recovery” or ensuring the species is able to survive, with a stable population as a goal. The new Act is so narrow that it would virtually ensure continued decline, extinction, or extirpation.

Bill 5, if passed, would provide Cabinet the power to decide which species deserve protection, effectively making protection a political choice, not a scientific one.

The new law would define animal “habitat” to mean only the nest, den, or immediate area around it — not the forests, wetlands or feeding grounds they need to survive. Cabinet is allowed to further narrow that definition. This would leave species that are already in decline due to habitat loss, without the basic things they need to survive. The remaining landscape could resemble a moonscape without regulation. Even “harassment” of at-risk wildlife would be unregulated.

Right now, developers must apply for permits when projects threaten species or their habitat. These are reviewed by environmental experts and come with requirements to reduce harm.

Under Bill 5, that process is replaced by an online registration form. Once a company clicks “submit,” they’re free to start building. This includes killing species and destroying the remaining protected areas like dens. No review, no obligation to consider safer alternatives. It’s a developer’s dream and an environmental nightmare.