I never comment on things…

I never comment on things like this. But after 70+ years as a citizen in Ontario, I can keep quiet no longer.

I am thoroughly and VEHEMENTLY against Bill 5, the "Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy" Act, with the proposed repeal of the Endangered Species Act, 2007, and a new "Special Conservation Act of 2025". These proposed changes clearly endanger the protection of sensitive parts of the natural world in Ontario, clearly deny the democratic processes which Ontarians have fought for, for over a century, as well as deny the rights of the Indigenous people who have lived here and took care of these lands long before any of us or our ancestors ever came here.

I could repeat what others have said, but in my own words, this is a blatant attack and disregard for the future of living things on our planet here within Ontario, and a complete demonstration of contempt for the increasing dangers and costs of climate change, all in the name of short-term industry and commercial wealth for those in positions of power. (That it will create jobs for the people is a transparent justification for greed in the face of the proven damage the proposed legislation will allow.) The values of the environment and human life is lost in this legislation, and the loosey-goosey pretense that it will protect them is despicable.

This legislation demonstrates very clearly that the government is going against the wishes of Ontarians who have not voted for this. In many many many many many many many many MANY cases in my lifetime, Ontarians have voted AGAINST this kind of thing and FOR environmental assessments and protection -- for the sake of OUR future, OUR CHILDREN'S future, and the future of OUR PLANET - our one and only place that keeps humans alive. These are not idle words or concepts.

In the face of increasing industrial and commercial destruction of the environment over the past 50 years, the very legislation that Bill 5 proposes to eliminate has been the very mechanism that has SLOWED species extinction, environmental damage, and ultimately, planetary climate change, which are all now very clearly threatening our own existence.

Ontarians have repeatedly voted to PROTECT the environment and ensure PROPER ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS are carried out in order to STOP the continual degradation and permanent destruction of lands and living things within our province.

But so many people DO NOT KNOW about this legislation because, like so many other things this government has already done, it is being done without proper media coverage to obtain the opinions of the average Ontario citizen. I read news from numerous sources of media voraciously these days - but I have to find out about this from a couple of organizations at this late date?!?

Utter failure - purposeful I believe - by the Ford government.

I personally am absolutely AGAINST weaker protections or my fellow Ontario citizens having almost no meaningful say in decisions that affect our land, water and future. Following the path of destruction of all that USED TO BE good in the United States, Bill 5 would silence citizen voices in affected communities, it would deny the value of the scientific research and knowledge about environmental processes, and erase decades of hard-won environmental safeguards and improvements in Ontario.

I demand the Ontario government listen to the people who HAVE heard about this proposed legislation, and withdraw Bill 5 until a full and transparent consultation is completed with the citizens of Ontario, publicly acknowledged scientific experts, and the true stewards of our lands, the Indigenous people. This time-consuming process is the only way to find a path that will allow economic growth while still protecting sensitive environments in Ontario.

Without that, once again, the current Ford government will prove to history that it is truly NOT "here for the little guy" -- OR the environment. Once again, this proposed legislations makes it abundantly clear that the Ford Government is here for the benefit of the rich and powerful who really DO NOT CARE about the future of anyone or anything but themselves, their own families, their friends and their colleagues. The rest of us, the environment, the future - be damned.

Protecting nature and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. They require environmental assessments to ensure that the damage to the environment does not put life on earth in every increasing jeopardy. Even with lots of money and power, the human beings in the Ontario government will pay for these wildly irresponsible actions.

Both the natural world and human history will judge these people and this legislation very harshly if it is allowed to pass as is.

Look at the bigger picture, and choose more wisely.