I strongly oppose Bill 5,…

I strongly oppose Bill 5, the "Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act. This legislation threatens over 270 at-risk species. Of particular concern are:
• Narrowing the definition of "habitat" to only immediate nesting or denning sites, ignoring essential areas for feeding, mating, and migration.
• Eliminating mandatory recovery strategies and government accountability for species protection.
• Allowing developments to proceed without permits, merely requiring online registration, thereby reducing oversight.
• Granting political discretion to add or remove species from protection lists, sidelining scientific expertise.

Additionally, the creation of "Special Economic Zones" could exempt developments from environmental regulations, further endangering sensitive ecosystems. This bill undermines science-based conservation efforts and disregards the rights of Indigenous communities by reducing consultation obligations. Protecting Ontario's biodiversity is not just an environmental concern but also an economic imperative, as healthy ecosystems provide invaluable services. I urge the government to withdraw Bill 5 and uphold robust protections for species at risk.