Repealing or weakening…

Repealing or weakening Ontario's Endangered Species Act puts Ontario in a position of backwards evolution. This action negates the decades of hard work that Canadians and indigenous communities have put in place towards protecting and maintaining the health of vital species. The proposed Bill 5 would create opportunity for the habitats (grasslands, wetlands and forests) and the populations of these species to be completely eradicated, jeopardizing Ontario’s entire ecosystem while doing so. These endangered species also contribute to the health, safety and economy of Ontario residents. We rely on these endangered species, and their homes, in cases of flood control, water filtration and carbon storage. To begin the destruction of these spaces would only further contribute to the very climate crisis we are trying to fight. Southern Ontario's wetlands alone are estimated to provide $4 billion annually in ecosystem services. These habitats are part of a deeply interconnected web where the loss of one species or area can ripple through the entire system, diminishing its ability to function and recover.

While Ontario's economic growth is important, it cannot come at the expense of the natural systems that make that growth possible in the first place.
Biodiversity underpins sustainable agriculture, clean drinking water, and tourism - all sectors that contribute to our economy.

Instead of rolling back protections, the government should be investing in policies that recognize the ecological and economic value of a thriving, interconnected natural world.