As an employee of an…

As an employee of an endangered species conservation organization that has been working in Ontario and has partnered with the provincial governments for 40 years, I want to express my deep concern about Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act.

At a time when our planet is facing an existential threat from an environmental and biodiversity crisis, it’s critical that we take bold, decisive action to protect species at risk. Bill 5, however, will do the very opposite. The proposed changes will severely weaken protections for those species that need our help the most. The future of Ontario’s most vulnerable wildlife depends on the strong, science-based protections that forward-thinking past governments put in place. Ontario should be strengthening safeguards for species at risk—not weakening and dismantling them. By quickening the approval process to fast-track development, this Bill may possibly speed up processes for unregulated industry for short-term gain—but will be disastrous when it comes to protecting species that are on the brink of extinction.

By unscientifically narrowing the definition of the habitat that an animal or plant needs to survive, species will disappear from Ontario. Arbitrarily and unscientifically redefining “habitat” to include only an animal’s dwelling is nonsensical. Similarly redefining the word “harm” to no longer include harassment is illogical. Saying that an endangered animal no longer requires protection of habitat beyond their "dwelling" (a nesting tree for example) and is no longer safe from harassment would be like telling someone that their house can stay but that they no longer will have access to groceries or any other means of finding food, no internet or cellphone, and that they will not be safe from terrorists persecuting them as soon as they step outside their door. The changes proposed in this Bill have no scientific grounding whatsoever and are insulting to scientists who have dedicated their lives to protecting Ontario’s environment and disregard anyone that believes that government policies be based on the best science available. Interestingly enough, these proposed redefinitions are the very same that have recently been used by the current federal government of the United States to gut the Endangered Species Act in that country. Can we not do better? If we take a step back now, we will lose species—and ultimately degrade the ecosystems that we all rely on for a healthy, thriving environment and quality of life – pollination of the foods we eat every day, clean air, fresh water, flood protection for our homes, and the list is endless. Protecting species at risk does much more than protect the individual species, it leads to the safeguarding of critical habitats and the benefits they provide for all of us.

There is absolutely no reason to pit the environment against industry and development. It is lazy and shortsighted to choose one at the expense of another and will only benefit some individuals in the short-term while reducing the quality of life and health of all of us that live in this beautiful province. Other countries around the world have forward-thinking government policies in place that benefit environmentally responsible businesses, industries and developers working together with local communities to sustainably grow local economy and protect the environment. To suggest that protecting species biodiversity is at odds with profitable development is just patently untrue and a scare tactic to push a Bill through that is not needed. If other countries and jurisdictions have been able to grow both their economy and protect species at the same time then why can't that be done here in the province of Ontario. How can legislation like Bill 5, that will do the opposite possibly be justified? It can’t.