As a resident of both…

As a resident of both Toronto and Muskoka, I write to ask for the immediate withdrawal of Bill 5. This legislation will cause irreparable harm to Ontario’s environment and be detrimental in the long term to our provincial economy.

I and my fellow Ontarian’s did not vote to have our environmental protections tossed out in the name of accelerating the economy.

The environment and quality of life in Ontario cannot be thrown away to “unleash the economy”. In much of Ontario, the environment is the economy. Protecting Ontario’s biodiversity isn’t a barrier to economic success—it’s the foundation of it. By protecting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems today, we secure resilient communities, a vibrant tourism sector, and ensure sustainable growth for future generations.

I have many concerns about this legislation including:

· I oppose the plan to amend and ultimately repeal the Endangered Species Act under Schedule 2.

· I oppose the proposed new Species Conservation Act, 2025 (Schedule 10), which would empower Cabinet to override science-based evidence in species protection decisions.

o replacing the current requirement for species-specific authorizations with a voluntary online registry—eliminating expert review and the obligation to consider safer alternatives or mitigation will be detrimental to the preservation of species at risk.

o redefining habitat for species at risk that does not include all elements of their life cycle requirements is foolishness. Habitat is not a pin on a map. It is not limited to a nest, den, or the area “immediately surrounding” an animal. It is an entire interconnected system. The proposed definitions ignore this scientific reality—and in doing so, put Ontario’s biodiversity at irreversible risk.

o the elimination of recovery plans and compensation requirements to contribute to habitat improvements or re-creation elsewhere when impacts are unavoidable is also completely inappropriate. Mitigation strategies are a secondary protection strategy but doing nothing when damaging habitats is unreasonable

· I oppose the creation of “special economic zones” (Schedule 9), which would exempt “trusted proponents” and “designated projects” from complying with key provincial laws, municipal by-laws, and First Nations consultation requirements. The act contains no limits, no criteria, no process or procedures to limit its application. Further this bill transfers the power to the cabinet with no legislative and certainly no public oversight. Transparency is the bedrock of trust in government actions. Schedule 9 must be removed until such time as reasonable guardrails are established that work within the rule of law, civil rights and our democratic system.

The lakes, forests, wetlands, wildlife and watersheds of Ontario are not expendable in pursuit of development. This bill purports to ‘protect Ontario’ but it will have the opposite effect. The Ontario we call home does not degrade our environment and abrogate the rights of its citizens in pursuit of economic gains for private enterprise.

This is not how we protect what makes Ontario, and indeed Canada, unique and the envy of many around the world.

Please withdraw Bill 5 in its entirety. Ontario’s economy and environment are not mutually exclusive. One cannot flourish without the other.