Dear Environmental Registry…

Dear Environmental Registry of Ontario,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. This legislation poses a serious threat to Ontario’s ecosystems, wildlife, and Indigenous rights, and I urge the government to withdraw it immediately.

The bill’s replacement of the Endangered Species Act, 2007 with the Species Conservation Act, 2025 is especially alarming. It removes automatic protections for at-risk species and their habitats and centralizes power in the hands of a single minister—who may lack scientific expertise—to delay or avoid protections if they interfere with economic development. This represents an unacceptable level of government overreach, placing political and industrial interests above science, environmental integrity, and public trust.

Equally concerning is the bill’s impact on COSSARO, the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario. Previously an independent body composed of qualified scientists, the bill allows the Minister to appoint its members with reduced requirements for scientific expertise. This politicizes what should be an objective, evidence-based process and risks undermining the credibility of species assessments.

The bill also fails to uphold free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous communities, as required by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Many of the areas affected by this legislation—including those targeted for mining and infrastructure—overlap with Indigenous territories. The lack of meaningful consultation, and the potential for ecological harm, directly threatens Indigenous lands, livelihoods, and cultural practices.

Ontario’s environment is not a barrier to economic progress—it is a critical foundation for our future. I urge you to reject Bill 5 and preserve strong, science-based environmental laws that respect both biodiversity and Indigenous rights.