I strongly oppose Bill 5,…

I strongly oppose Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. This legislation weakens Ontario’s environmental protections in ways that are reckless and short-sighted, placing endangered species and vital habitats at serious risk.

By shifting to a “registration-first” model, the government would allow potentially harmful activities to proceed without prior review or approval. This removes a critical safeguard meant to prevent irreversible ecological damage. The redefinition of “habitat” narrows protections so severely that essential ecosystems may no longer qualify — especially for species that depend on larger or seasonal ranges.

The elimination of mandatory recovery strategies and progress reviews guts accountability. The government’s new power to add or remove species from protection — even against scientific advice — opens the door to politicized decisions that ignore evidence. Ending the Species at Risk advisory committee silences expert voices, and the absence of a clear role for Indigenous communities violates the spirit of reconciliation and the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.

This bill prioritizes speed and development over science, transparency, and long-term stewardship. Ontario’s species and ecosystems are not obstacles to economic growth — they are part of our identity and future. I urge the government to withdraw this bill and commit to strengthening, not dismantling, our protections for species at risk.