Please stop Slashing…

Please stop Slashing Protections for Ontario's Endangered Species for Corporate Gain

I am writing with profound alarm and opposition to the proposed Species Conservation Act (Bill 5). This legislation represents a reckless and unacceptable dismantling of vital protections for Ontario's vulnerable species and their habitats, prioritizing the narrow interests of developers and corporations over the fundamental health of our environment, our people, and our long-term economic well-being.

Reckless Abandonment of Species Protection: The proposed Act's deliberate shift to accommodate "social and economic considerations" is a thinly veiled excuse to slash crucial protections, effectively placing the profits of a few above the survival of Ontario's irreplaceable biodiversity. The abandonment of explicit goals for "recovery and stewardship" demonstrates a shocking disregard for our natural heritage.

Dismantling Essential Habitat Protection: The insidious redefinition of "habitat" to mere dwelling places is a blatant attempt to eviscerate meaningful protection. Ignoring the broader ecological needs of species – their feeding grounds, breeding sites, and migratory routes – will condemn them to decline, all to appease development pressures.

Surrendering Oversight to Self-Regulation: The "registration-first" approach is nothing short of a dereliction of duty. Replacing necessary permits with simple online notifications effectively allows developers to proceed with potentially harmful activities unchecked, prioritizing expediency over environmental responsibility. This hands over the fate of endangered species to those who stand to profit from their demise.

Politicizing Species Survival: Granting the government the arbitrary power to decide which species warrant protection, even after scientific assessment, is a dangerous politicization of conservation. This opens the door for politically motivated decisions that will undoubtedly sacrifice species for short-sighted corporate agendas.

Offloading Responsibility for Federally Protected Species: The cynical move to abandon provincial protection for federally listed species on non-federal lands is a transparent attempt to shirk responsibility. Relying solely on federal measures is a gamble with the survival of these species within Ontario's unique ecosystems.

Gutting Vital Conservation Funding: The proposed dismantling of the Species at Risk Conservation Fund and the Species Conservation Action Agency is a devastating blow to on-the-ground conservation efforts. Replacing them with vague promises of a new program offers no assurance of sustained and effective support for species recovery.

Eliminating the Imperative for Recovery: The removal of mandatory recovery strategies and management plans demonstrates a callous disregard for the active steps needed to save endangered species. Without these crucial frameworks, species will be left to languish, their decline unchecked and unaddressed.

Sanctioning Harmful Interference: Removing "harassment" as a prohibited activity is a green light for disruptive actions that can severely impact the delicate lives of protected species. This effectively prioritizes convenience for developers over the well-being of vulnerable wildlife.

Ignoring Indigenous Rights and Knowledge: The streamlined registration system will inevitably reduce meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples, dismissing their inherent rights and invaluable traditional ecological knowledge in decisions impacting the land and its species.

Facilitating Environmental Destruction in "Special Economic Zones": The concurrent proposal for "special economic zones" with exemptions from environmental laws is a clear indication of this government's willingness to sacrifice environmental integrity, including the fate of endangered species, for the sake of unchecked corporate expansion.

This proposed Species Conservation Act is not a step forward; it is a destructive assault on Ontario's natural heritage, driven by the avarice of developers and corporations. A healthy environment is not a barrier to a strong economy; it is its very foundation. We demand that you abandon this reckless legislation and uphold your responsibility to protect Ontario's endangered species for the benefit of all, now and in the future.

Thank you