I oppose the proposed…

I oppose the proposed changes to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act and the introduction of the new Species Conservation Act, 2025.

While I understand and appreciate the need to support economic growth and streamline project approvals, we cannot continue to prioritize development at the expense of vulnerable wildlife. Endangered and threatened species are in decline precisely because their habitats and survival needs are too often considered secondary to short-term human interests.

The move to a “registration-first” approach significantly weakens oversight and places too much trust in self-regulation by project proponents. Without upfront government review, there is a serious risk that harmful activities will proceed unchecked. Similarly, narrowing the legal definition of “habitat” and removing the prohibition on harassment further dilutes essential protections that these species need to survive.

Giving the government discretion over which species to protect—despite the scientific assessments of COSSARO—undermines the science-based foundation that is critical to conservation work. Politics should never override evidence-based decisions about the protection of at-risk wildlife.

I also strongly object to the removal of mandatory recovery strategies and the dismantling of independent oversight bodies. These changes reduce transparency, accountability, and the ability for experts and the public to monitor whether conservation goals are being met.

Ontario has a responsibility to future generations to steward its biodiversity, not deregulate its destruction. Streamlining development must not come at the cost of the province’s most vulnerable species. I urge the government to reconsider this proposal and commit to a truly balanced approach—one that supports sustainable development and strong, enforceable protections for our natural heritage.