This bill proposal is…

This bill proposal is incredibly disappointing, reckless and a significant step backwards for wildlife protections in Canada. It is absolutely not in the best interests of Canadians and the consequences will harm current and future generations alike. It only serves Doug Ford and his party, as well as the developers and corporations that support him. Canada is home to many unique organisms, ecosystems and amazing biodiversity. More specifically, Ontario is a biodiversity hotspot and a home for many species not found anywhere else in Canada, many of which are already at risk. The removal of these protections, which have been in place for decades for a good reason, is a threat to these species and us as humans. Ecotourism is an often overlooked contributor to our economy, but that relies on the health and resilience of species that are often threatened by human development and encroachment. Additionally, many of these species provide vital roles in ecosystem services that we rely on. For example, wetlands provide flood attenuation, water purification, carbon sinks, toxin filtration, wildlife refuge, natural resources and recreational opportunities, to name just a few. The loss of species that support these processes, and in some cases just one keystone species, can have detrimental effects and result in the collapse of entire ecosystems. The cost for wildlife is obvious, but the human cost of this cannot be understated, as these essential services we received for free will now be a burden on taxpayers. Ignoring this will cause suffering in other ways, from economic costs like widespread losses of natural resources and restoration, to social costs like detriments to mental health due to the loss of recreational and natural spaces. In addition, human and environmental health and safety also suffers, as mentioned in the wetland example above. Beyond this, these negative effects do not remain within our borders and are a detriment to the entire world and our biosphere. Our environment protects us and because wildlife don’t have a voice themselves, we must stand up to protect them. This is exactly why protections like the Endangered Species Act were put into place. With free rein to ignore these scientifically-backed protections, selfish people will receive short term gains and cause long term catastrophe for all Canadians, now and in the future. The lack of foresight and oversight in the proposed bill is extremely dangerous. We ask that the Ontario government reconsiders this illogical and harmful proposal, for the benefit of all Ontarians, Canadians, and everyone else.