I strongly oppose Bill 5 and…

I strongly oppose Bill 5 and the proposed changes to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. These amendments would allow the destruction of critical habitats without requiring relocation, restoration, or accountability from developers, placing species, ecosystems, and communities at serious risk.

Bill 5 weakens science-based protections and prioritizes short-term industrial gain over long-term ecological health. It threatens wetlands, headwaters, and riparian zones essential for biodiversity, clean water, and climate resilience. The bill also undermines the recovery of at-risk species by permitting development in ecologically sensitive areas with minimal oversight.

Importantly, Bill 5 overrides Indigenous rights by ignoring free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and failing to recognize Indigenous governance, stewardship, and knowledge systems that have protected these lands for generations. It also compromises human rights, including the right to a healthy environment, clean water, and climate security.

I urge the government to withdraw Bill 5 and recommit to strong, science-based, and rights-respecting environmental legislation that protects Ontario’s biodiversity, watersheds, and communities.