I am strongly opposed to…

I am strongly opposed to Bill 5, my concerns come from endangered species being stripped of their needed protections, a lack of permits that would lead to important ecosystems being destroyed and indigenous land rights. Right now, Ontario is home to many endangered species that Bill 5 would strip of their much needed protection. Two examples are the endangered Redside Dace minnow and Butternut tree. The Redside Dace is important to Ontario in order to ensure our mosquito population does not increase rapidly, without protections mosquito populations could increase in Ontario. Butternut trees are important to provide food for many species of birds, squirrels and small mammals, without protections, these species would lose an important food source which could threaten their survival.

Along with concern about endangered species, I am as well concerned about a lack of consultation with indigenous communities. I do not think that it is correct for the government to make decisions about indigenous territory without consultation since they should have the treaty right to be consulted about their land. I also fear for the loss of indigenous history that this bill would create. Without the requirement for archeological assessments these projects could destroy archeological sites that could be important to indigenous history.