I am outraged by Bill 5 and…

I am outraged by Bill 5 and the blatant disregard it shows for Ontario’s most vulnerable wildlife and natural heritage. This bill is not just a step backward-it’s a full-scale assault on the very laws that protect our endangered species from extinction.

**1. Gutting the Permit System: A Green Light for Destruction**

Allowing developers and industry to proceed with harmful activities after simply “registering” online, without any expert review or oversight, is reckless and irresponsible. The current permit process exists for a reason: to ensure that science-not profit-guides decisions that affect endangered plants and animals. Bill 5 throws caution to the wind, putting species at risk for the sake of expediency and corporate convenience.

**2. Redefining Habitat: Ignoring Science, Inviting Extinction**

The proposal to shrink the definition of “habitat” to only the immediate area around a nest, den, or root zone is an insult to decades of ecological research. Species don’t just survive in tiny pockets-they need space to feed, breed, migrate, and thrive. This change is nothing short of a giveaway to developers, paving the way for habitat destruction on a massive scale.

**3. Removing “Harassment” from Protections: Open Season on Vulnerable Wildlife**

By eliminating “harass” from the list of prohibited actions, this bill gives a free pass to those who would disrupt, stress, and drive away endangered species, as long as they don’t kill them outright. This is an appalling abandonment of responsibility and a clear signal that the government values business interests over basic decency and stewardship.

**4. Politicizing Species Protection: Science Silenced**

Handing politicians the power to ignore expert recommendations and decide which species get protection is a recipe for disaster. This move strips away the last vestiges of science-based decision-making and opens the door to backroom deals and political interference. Our wildlife deserves better than to be sacrificed for political gain.

**5. Eliminating Recovery Plans: Hiding from Accountability**

Scrapping requirements for recovery strategies and progress reviews is an obvious attempt to avoid transparency and accountability. Without these tools, there is no way to track whether protections are working-or even if they exist at all. This is not just bad policy; it’s a deliberate effort to keep the public in the dark.

**6. Abandoning Migratory Birds and Aquatic Species: Passing the Buck**

By excluding migratory birds and aquatic species from provincial protection, the government is washing its hands of responsibility and hoping someone else will pick up the slack. This piecemeal approach will leave critical gaps in protection and put even more species at risk.

Bill 5 is a disaster for Ontario’s environment and an affront to anyone who cares about our province’s natural legacy. It puts short-term profits ahead of the long-term health of our ecosystems, our communities, and our children’s future. I demand that this bill be withdrawn and that Ontario’s endangered species receive the strong, science-based protections