I respectfully submit this…

I respectfully submit this comment in opposition to the proposed Species Conservation Act (SCA, 2025) and its accompanying regulatory framework. The proposed legislation represents a significant weakening of Ontario’s commitment to protecting species at risk and conserving the ecological integrity of their habitats.

The existing Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) is one of Ontario’s strongest environmental protection tools, grounded in scientific evidence, independent assessment, and automatic habitat protection. The transition to the proposed SCA would erode these core principles by:

Removing the automatic protection of habitat upon species listing;

Allowing ministerial discretion to delay or limit the application of protections;

Replacing comprehensive permitting processes with a registration system that prioritizes administrative efficiency over ecological outcomes; and

Reducing the number of species afforded protection under provincial legislation.

These changes collectively risk undermining the recovery of vulnerable species and the long-term health of Ontario’s ecosystems. As someone engaged in environmental fieldwork and aquatic monitoring, I have observed how species recovery depends on consistent, science-based policy and the preservation of intact habitat networks. Weakening these safeguards would have lasting negative consequences for biodiversity, water quality, and ecological resilience across the province.

I urge the Ministry to reconsider this proposal and maintain the strong, science-driven framework of the Endangered Species Act, 2007. Ontario should be enhancing, not diminishing, its legal and regulatory commitments to species protection and ecosystem conservation.