While I support responsible…

While I support responsible economic development, I do not believe it should come at the expense of our most vulnerable species and ecosystems. The proposed Species Conservation Act, 2025 introduces a “registration-first” system that allows potentially harmful activities to proceed before proper environmental oversight or mitigation measures are confirmed. This weakens protections that are vital to ensuring species at risk are safeguarded.

Additionally, granting the government discretion over which species to list, without binding scientific recommendations, politicizes a process that should remain evidence-based and transparent.

I am equally concerned about the bill’s impact on Indigenous communities. The proposed Special Economic Zones and exemptions from environmental laws risk bypassing meaningful consultation and free, prior, and informed consent—undermining reconciliation and Indigenous rights.

I urge the Ontario government to reconsider this bill, retain robust species and habitat protections, uphold scientific integrity in environmental decision-making, and ensure all development is carried out in partnership with Indigenous peoples and in accordance with Ontario’s environmental and legal commitments.