I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Bill 5,. This legislative shift poses substantial risks to Ontario's biodiversity and undermines decades of environmental protection efforts.
Key Concerns:
1. Weakening of Species Protections: The proposed SCA narrows the definition of "habitat" to immediate dwelling areas, excluding essential foraging and migratory spaces. This change fails to account for the full ecological needs of species, potentially accelerating their decline.
2. Removal of "Harassment" Provisions: Eliminating protections against the "harassment" of species disregards behaviours that, while not immediately lethal, can disrupt feeding, breeding, and other critical activities, thereby threatening species survival.
3. Shift to Registration-First Approach: Allowing activities to commence immediately after registration, without prior review, increases the risk of harm to at-risk species and their habitats. This approach prioritizes expediency over ecological due diligence.
4. Political Discretion Over Scientific Assessment: Granting the government discretion to add or remove species from the protected list, even when classifications are determined by the independent Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), politicizes species protection and may lead to inconsistent or biased decisions.
5. Elimination of Recovery Strategies: The proposed legislation removes the requirement for recovery strategies and progress reviews, which are essential for the long-term conservation and recovery of endangered species.