Introduction Bill 5, the…

Introduction

Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025, threatens to dismantle decades of environmental progress by rolling back protections for species at risk and their habitats (Singh, 2025). Introduced under Premier Doug Ford’s leadership, this bill prioritizes economic interests over ecological sustainability, undermining Ontario’s commitment to conservation. If passed, it will weaken the very laws designed to prevent extinction in the province.
The bill presents three major concerns. It removes species recovery as a goal. It weakens and politicizes habitat protection. It allows for the creation of special economic zones that bypass environmental regulations. These provisions pose an unacceptable risk to Ontario’s biodiversity and must be rejected.

Removes Species Recovery as a Goal

Bill 5 replaces the goal of species recovery with a vague concept of conservation that does not require population stability or growth (Singh, 2025). Ontario Environment Minister Todd McCarthy claims the bill will strengthen enforcement, stating, "There will be zero tolerance for bad actors who would dare to harm species. Our new approach will leverage strong enforcement." However, enforcement alone cannot compensate for the removal of recovery mandates.

The bill eliminates provincial protections for certain aquatic species and migratory birds, relying solely on federal legislation (Singh, 2025). David Browne, senior vice-president for conservation and policy at Birds Canada, warns that this shift is dangerous, stating, "The federal law was never designed to completely replace the provincial law." The Ontario Endangered Species Act previously required recovery plans for at-risk species, ensuring their populations could stabilize or grow. Under Bill 5, this requirement is removed, leaving species vulnerable to continued decline.

Weakens and Politicizes Habitat Protection

Bill 5 drastically narrows the definition of habitat, limiting protections to a species’ immediate nest or den while excluding essential ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and feeding areas (Bowman, 2025). Cabinet is granted the power to redefine habitat on a case-by-case basis, sidelining scientific expertise in favor of political discretion.

Environmental advocates have condemned this approach. Wildlife Preservation Canada states, "Redefining habitat to just a den or nest is ecologically absurd—species need entire ecosystems to survive." Science recognizes that ecosystems function as interconnected systems, and habitat protection must be landscape-wide to ensure species survival (Wildlife Preservation Canada, 2025).
Additionally, the bill weakens permitting requirements, lowers the threshold for harm, and fails to regulate harassment or degradation of habitat. Without clear regulations, species already struggling due to habitat loss will face even greater threats (Bowman, 2025).

Allows for the Creation of Special Economic Zones

One of the most alarming aspects of Bill 5 is the introduction of Special Economic Zones, which grant the provincial Cabinet sweeping powers to exempt designated areas from municipal and provincial laws (Bowman, 2025). These zones allow industries to bypass environmental protections, posing a direct threat to endangered species, clean water, and Indigenous land rights.

Ecojustice Canada warns that these zones could lead to unchecked development, stating, "These ‘Special Economic Zones’ when used elsewhere, usually in dictatorships, have often failed to meet their economic goals and have caused significant social, human rights, and environmental damage." Indigenous communities are particularly at risk, as land claims and environmental concerns may be ignored entirely in these deregulated areas (Bowman, 2025).

The bill’s provisions mirror failed economic experiments in other jurisdictions, where deregulation has led to environmental destruction and social harm. Ontario must not follow this dangerous path.

Conclusion

Bill 5 represents a reckless rollback of environmental protections, prioritizing short-term economic gains over long-term ecological stability. By removing species recovery mandates, weakening habitat protections, and creating law-free economic zones, the bill threatens Ontario’s biodiversity and undermines responsible governance.

Ontario must reject Bill 5 and uphold its commitment to conservation. The province’s natural heritage is not a commodity to be sacrificed for deregulated development. Protecting endangered species and their habitats is not just an environmental necessity—it is a moral obligation.