Bird Safe Guelph strongly…

Bird Safe Guelph strongly opposes the proposed interim changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007. As a wildlife conservation organization committed to protecting Ontario’s birds from human-caused threats, we are strongly aware of the dangers facing many of our province’s species at risk. Since the 1970s, North America has lost an estimated 3 billion birds. In Canada alone, approximately 25 million birds die in window collisions every year. Habitat loss and urban development are among the leading drivers of bird mortality, and both would increase under the proposed changes. Given the ecological and economic value that birds and the natural areas they occupy provide, we believe it is essential to mitigate human-related causes of bird mortality, not only for the sake of birds, but for our shared future.

Our team works to raise awareness about the challenges birds face and to provide meaningful opportunities for conservation action. As a completely volunteer run organization, our members dedicate their time and energy to protecting endangered species because of their passion and love for birds and the natural areas they occupy. Many of our members are students of ornithology, passionate birders, and advocates for nature. The proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act directly undermine the work we do to support species recovery and cause genuine distress for our members who care so deeply about birds and their habitats. Watching protections be stripped away from species we know and love is heartbreaking.

The proposed Species Conservation Act would only protect nests and their immediate surroundings, not the habitats birds actually need to survive year-round (for example, foraging areas, stopover sites used during migration, wintering grounds, and the broader landscapes that support breeding, shelter, and movement). The claim that federal laws cover this gap is misleading. Migratory bird habitat on private and provincial Crown land is not meaningfully protected under federal law and this new legislation would leave those areas vulnerable. Ontario must retain and enforce the current habitat protections in the Endangered Species Act, which provide a clearer and stronger framework for protecting the province’s most vulnerable species. If there are issues with implementation, they should be addressed through improved processes, not weakened protections. Any proposed legislation must also fully respect Indigenous rights, knowledge systems, and leadership. Indigenous peoples are vital stewards of biodiversity and their voices must be centered in any conservation effort. The proposed Special Economic Zone Act of 2025 would unleash an unregulated approach for development that threatens everything mentioned above, especially because economic gain is often at the expense and exploitation of natural resources.

Biodiversity is fundamental to the health of our ecosystems, our communities, and our collective future. There are better ways to support development that don’t come at the expense of nature. We believe that Ontario can find solutions that work for both people and wildlife instead of trying to find a shortcut that provides short-term benefits with long-term consequences, some of which are irreversible.