I would suggest that Ontario…

I would suggest that Ontario makes absolutely no change to the esa or Endangered Species Act. Our Wildlife is essential to the well-being of Ontario and all of North America. The luxury of speeding up development is not worth the loss of habitat and the loss of species associated with this loss.
According to recent studies, North America has lost approximately 29% of its bird population since 1970. This amounts to a loss of nearly 3 billion birds across various ecosystems.
Some research using different methodologies, like analyzing summer egg production, has estimated declines in the Eastern Monarch population ranging from 22% to 72% over the last 10 years.
Evidence suggests substantial losses of wild pollinators in many regions, including North America. A 2025 report indicated that over 10% of the 759 pollinator species studied in Canada are at some level of risk of extinction.
Bees appear to be particularly affected, with 34.7% of the 472 bee species studied in Canada and the U.S. being at risk of extinction.
Although Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, often called the "grandfather of Biodiversity", passed away in 2021, his extensive research and statements throughout his career highlighted the critical link between bird populations and the overall health of the environment. He often emphasized that "If you take care of birds, you take care of most of the environmental problems in the world."
Based on his work, particularly his long-term Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project in the Amazon, we can infer several key points he would likely make regarding the loss of bird populations:
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Dr. Lovejoy's research directly showed how the fragmentation of forests leads to a significant decline in bird species. Smaller, isolated forest fragments cannot support the same diversity of birdlife as large, intact habitats. He found that even 100-hectare fragments could lose half of their forest interior bird species in less than 15 years.
Indicator Species: He viewed birds as crucial indicator species. Their decline signals broader environmental degradation and the unraveling of ecosystems. The loss of bird populations indicates that habitats are being degraded or destroyed, impacting countless other species as well.