I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my opposition to Bill 5, specifically to the amendments to the Endangered Species Act.
In my opinion, economic development should never not come at the expense of putting our environment at peril and disowning our commitment to reconciliation.

The ESA already has too many exceptions and rather minimal requirements for companies to fulfil. Reducing the scope of the meaning of “habitat” and creating economic zones will result in many species losing their already restricted living spaces and the consequences will be devastating.

Look for example at what has happened with the coyotes. They were displaced from their habitats when the government changed the landscape at Ontario Place entirely. The poor coyotes fled in fear into a residential area where many conflicts have since arisen, to the point where the City had to shoot them, which is outrageous.

You did not stop to think of the consequences then and are not stopping to think of the consequences now. The death of those coyotes is entirely on you, and you should be very ashamed of this result.
The death of those coyotes is not “incidental
“ their death is something that any good policymaker could have foreseen and that result should have been prevented and accounted for.

I invite you to read again the preamble of the Act and to revisit the scientific reports that were used when the Act was first enacted. Further, consider environmental principles and very importantly, the role that Ontario wants to play in Canada and the world as a leader and example.
The laws that we have to protect what is the most important asset that we share - our environment, should not be subject to change at every political whim. Stability, consistency, coherence, and commitment to our principles and values are what make a province strong.

Political whims should never be the basis for policy and as policiy makers you have a huge responsibility to push back to the pressures of political whims that undermine your technical knowledge and your principles.

Lastly, I invite you to recommend to the Premier’s office to unleash our economy by implementing measures such as allowing trade with other provinces, expanding trade of construction materials with other countries, working with other governments to implement a construction program with temporary construction workers from other countries, working on decreasing crime rates, repurposing more office buildings into residential buildings, building more public transportation infrastructure, and increasing the spaces available for public gardens to incentivize sustainable sources of food.

Policymakers and lawyers: I choose to think that you don't want to do this and that this also feels wrong to you. Please stop being passive accomplices of this terrible policy and speak up to the Premier’s office. You are not “just doing your job,” you are contributing to the destruction of our world as we know it.