Opposed to Bill 5, please…

Opposed to Bill 5, please stop it.

I am writing to you as a concerned resident of Etobicoke and a citizen of this province who values not only economic progress but also the ecological integrity of our shared home. I urge you to stand firmly against Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025, which—despite its euphemistic title—poses a direct threat to Ontario’s biodiversity, especially its endangered species and natural habitats.

Bill 5 seeks to dismantle the foundational protections enshrined in Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, replacing it with a framework that is notably weak, lacking scientific rigour, and overly deferential to industrial and developer interests. Such a move prioritizes short-term profit over long-term ecological sustainability and public interest. It signals a disturbing shift: from science-based conservation to corporate appeasement.

We must call this what it is—environmental deregulation masked as economic strategy. Doug Ford’s government has repeatedly championed policies that strip away environmental protections under the guise of "cutting red tape." But what is red tape to them is often the last line of defense for species teetering on the brink of extinction. Once habitats are bulldozed and ecosystems disrupted, no amount of economic growth can resurrect what has been lost.

This bill, if passed, will pave the way for reckless development—literally and figuratively—allowing industry giants and land developers to override ecological concerns with minimal accountability. Such a precedent not only endangers wildlife but undermines the scientific community and the very concept of environmental stewardship.

Are we willing to follow in the footsteps of regions like parts of China, where unchecked industrial expansion has led to choking air, poisoned waterways, and mass biodiversity loss? Ontario should aspire to be a global leader in sustainable development, not a cautionary tale of what happens when corporate interests supersede environmental responsibility.

I am not opposed to economic growth—far from it. But I believe in a model that values balance, where environmental protection is not seen as an obstacle, but as a pillar of sustainable prosperity. We cannot afford to trade away our forests, wetlands, and species diversity for the illusion of economic gain that ultimately depletes the very resources we all depend upon.