I am a farmer in Rockwood…

I am a farmer in Rockwood Ontario and have for almost 60 years tried to conserve and protect wildlife residing on my property. I have listened to conservation authorities and government agencies mandate protection of threaten and endangered species for years. Now Bill 5 proposes to gut almost all the protections allocated to these animals, plants and birds to a "if you register your project and don't kill the animal in its den or kill a plant then it is OK to move forward with urban development or mineral extraction all in the name of economic development? What value will economic development have if there are no wildlife except in zoos/ no at-risk plants except in parks?

Schedule 9 concerning "special economic zones” is clearly focused on making both industry and the government richer with no regard for public safety or environmental protection. The schedule basically describes that humans, plants and animals should 'take one team” and allow economic growth for all. Unfortunately, no one can predict what will happen if all environmental and safety measures are ignored for monetary gain.

SPECIFIC ISSUES AND COMMENTS

Schedule 2 and 10

Only welling places and areas “immediately around the dwelling place” that are essential for some stages of the species’ life cycle will be protected.

Comment: How in the world are these animals supposed to raise their young as well as feed them without protection through all life stages and protection their feeding areas through all stages of life?

Plants also have a very narrow window of protection: " Vascular plants species’ ‘critical root zone’, as opposed to the current definition that protects areas on which the plant species (vascular or non-vascular) depends, directly or indirectly for all stages of the species’ life cycle"

Comment: Really? Not sure how close a bulldozer can get to a root system and not kill the plant.

Introducing broad Ministerial decision-making including in the appointments of members to the
Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), the issuance of permits that allow activities otherwise prohibited (i.e. the killing of listed species) and the removal of the opportunity to establish an advisory committee?????

Comment: Why did I protect these animals and birds for 60 years? Now the Minister wants to make a decision that is based on applications by industry. Is the Minister going to visit my farm to determine which animal should live and who should die?

Removing the requirement to create a list of species, classified as extirpated, endangered, threatened or special concern.

Comment: How can this help Canada protect its endangered species?

Removing the prohibition on ‘harassing’ a species.

Comment: Now we will be allowed to kill, harm and harass and listed endangered species?

Permitting the violation of Treaty rights, by removing protections of culturally important species and their habitats, such as sturgeons and boreal caribou.

Comment: What? I thought taxpayers had supported Indigenous rights for some time.

Minimal enforcement powers, including the removal of powers allowing enforcement officers to make ‘stop orders’ when a person is engaged in activities that would contravene the protections set out in the ESA, and instead granting the Minister power to issue a ‘mitigation order’ that would offset, rather than prevent, adverse impacts.

Comment: I see no value in reducing enforcement powers. The government has reduced enforcement staffing to the point of no return.

Reducing government accountability by removing requirements for reports, information and recovery strategies, tracking species protection and recovery, to be publicly available.

Comment: Reports are the only tool the public has to voice their concerns about these species.

Schedule 9

Schedule 9 introduces a new law called the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, which gives the province broad powers to designate “special economic zones” (SEZs) within which “trusted proponents” or “designated projects” are exempt from the requirements of other provincial laws, regulations, including municipal laws and by-laws.

Comment: I did not see any criteria listed for vetting these entities. Sounds like we are proposing to go back to the Wild West days where any activity is permitted if we make money. Why did society invent rules and regulations? TO PROTECT US FROM EXPLOITATION.

CONCLUSION
With all my passion and dedication to farming and environmental protection I request Bill 5 be withdrawn.