I strongly oppose this new…

I strongly oppose this new legislation, which not only dismantles essential protections for endangered wildlife and ecosystems, but also disregards the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous communities. This bill represents a profound failure of responsible governance. It ignores the urgent environmental challenges we face, undermines science-based conservation efforts, and violates the principles of meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples as required by both Canadian law and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Our natural heritage and the rights of Indigenous Peoples are not obstacles to development—they are foundational to a just and sustainable future. Any legislation that affects land, water, and biodiversity must be developed transparently and collaboratively, with full participation from Indigenous nations and impacted communities. This bill does the exact opposite.

The proposal to grant government discretion to add or remove species from protection lists is deeply troubling. Conservation decisions should be guided by scientific evidence, not political expediency. Allowing political interference in species listing undermines the credibility of our environmental protection framework and risks leaving vulnerable species without adequate safeguards.

The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) was established precisely to ensure that species assessments remain evidence-based and free from political pressure. This change represents a dangerous departure from best practices in environmental governance.

The drastically narrowed definition of "habitat" ignores fundamental ecological principles. Ecosystems function as interconnected wholes, not as isolated "dwelling places" or "critical root zones." By limiting protection to these narrowly defined areas, the proposal fails to safeguard the broader habitats that species require for foraging, migration, and long-term survival.

This approach contradicts decades of conservation science and risks creating a fragmented landscape of isolated protected "spots" surrounded by degraded ecosystems incapable of supporting biodiversity.

I urge this government to withdraw this legislation and engage in genuine consultation with Indigenous leaders, scientists, environmental experts, and the public. Protecting endangered species is not optional—it is our moral and legal obligation.