Doug Ford's proposal to gut…

Doug Ford's proposal to gut the Endangered Species Act is a true disgrace and an absolute careless move not only for our province today but for many generations to come. Doug Ford claims he is not like Donald Trump, yet he is doing the exact same thing Trump is doing in the USA which is to weaken the Endangered Species Act in favour of development. Ford and his government are greedy, shortsighted, selfish, and only care about what works for their agenda. They simply don't care about how their decision today affects Ontarians and how it will have permanent impacts on species populations. Some may even go extinct or be extirpated in Ontario because of this very controversial move. The economy doesn't matter if we don't have a healthy planet and biodiversity that give us air, water, and food which are all essential to our survival.

Why does Ford think it has to be development vs. nature? Why can't he focus on development while also protecting the planet and biodiversity? Prime Minister Carney is a great example of a leader who wants to make Canada economically competitive while also addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity. It doesn't have to be one or the other, it can be both. Doug Ford's choice to kill the Endangered Species Act is a clear indication that he only cares about one and not the other. It's very sad and completely reckless. He also doesn't care about Indigenous rights which is truly heartless.

We need to strengthen Ontario's Endangered Species Act, not weaken it. Ontario’s threatened and endangered birds need plans for their survival and recovery. The proposed changes eliminate the requirement to develop recovery plans and propose no meaningful alternative. Without recovery plans, the new Species Conservation Program will not be able to set priorities, and businesses and the public will not have guidance on the most important places to protect and actions to take. According to the State of Canada's Birds Report 2024, since 1970, grassland birds have declined by 67%, shorebirds are continuing to decline with a drop of 42%, aerial insectivores—birds that hunt for insects in flight—have declined by 43%, long distant migrant populations have declined by 29%, arctic birds have declined by 28%. These are alarming trends for birds, and destroying the very scarce remaining habitat they have left will only contribute to further declines.

According to a recent article by WWF, among other changes with concerning consequences for wildlife and people in the province, this new legislation would remove provincial responsibility for federally listed migratory birds — leaving it up to the federal government alone to protect them. There are currently 271 species protected under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, which will have one less layer of protection if Bill 5 passes. 44 of them are birds, ranging from the piping plover to birds of prey like the peregrine falcon and barn owl and elegant songbirds such as the olive-sided flycatcher and evening grosbeak. Indigenous leadership, voices, knowledge, and ongoing work on the land are critical for wild birds to thrive in sustainable ecosystems. The proposed legislation must respect Indigenous rights and the duty to consult.

The existing habitat definition and protections of the Endangered Species Act should be retained. They provide a clear approach to conserving Ontario’s most at-risk birds, and any issues of delays or lack of clarity can be dealt with through improvements in process. At a bare minimum, legal protection for threatened and endangered birds should continue to exist for habitat on provincial crown land, just as the federal Species at Risk Act habitat protections apply to federal crown land.

This is not about our economy. This is about the future of Ontario and what we, as Ontarians, want and need - to protect biodiversity, support Indigenous rights, and ensure future generations can enjoy this wonderful world. I urge you to make the right decision and protect Ontario's endangered species.