We are writing to express…

We are writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed interim changes to the Endangered Species Act of 2007 and the introduction of the Species Conservation Act of 2025 through Bill 5.

The suggestion that Ontario’s current approach to protecting and recovering species at risk is too complex, too slow, and too costly is being used to justify a reckless proposal lacking responsible, forward-thinking leadership. Ontario is standing at a critical crossroads. If Bill 5 passes, the fate of our natural environment and the species that depend on it will be at serious risk.

This is not just policy change. It is a sweeping dismantling of environmental protections that have taken years to build. Weakening the mandatory listing of at-risk species, redefining what counts as protected habitat, and eliminating the requirement for recovery strategies removes the very foundation of how we safeguard biodiversity in this province. These changes do not modernize the system. They strip it of meaning.

Bill 5 also speeds up approvals in sensitive ecosystems like the Ring of Fire, paving the way for more unchecked industrial development. It jeopardizes wetlands, forests, and watersheds. While the government claims this is about unleashing the economy, what it truly unleashes is a dangerous precedent where environmental oversight is treated as an obstacle to be cleared rather than a duty to uphold.

This is already playing out on the ground. In Dresden, the government is backing a landfill project while scrapping the environmental assessment that was promised to the community. Local Conservative MPP Steve Pinsonneault ran on a commitment to no landfill without a full review. That promise is now being broken, and communities are being cut out of decisions that endanger critical habitats like Molly’s Creek and the Sydenham River. These are not just local waterways. They are home to endangered species and part of Ontario’s shared natural heritage.

When government decisions ignore environmental review and public input, we all lose. Our water, air, wildlife, and future are put at risk.

Though Bill 5 promises increased funding for conservation, money without strong legislation, transparency, enforcement, and science-based planning will not protect species at risk. The government has yet to address the gaps identified in previous audits. More funding alone cannot fix a broken system—especially when the same bill actively weakens the core laws that protect nature.

Bill 5 is not progress. It is a step backward that hands over too much power to decision-makers at the expense of environmental safeguards and democratic processes. This is nothing more than a power grab.

We urge you to withdraw Bill 5 and commit to meaningful, science-based, and community-informed approaches to environmental protection. Ontario deserves a future where economic development and conservation are not treated as opposing goals but as responsibilities that must go hand in hand.

Do not gamble with the future of our species, our ecosystems, or the health of future generations.