Title: Opposing the Species…

Title: Opposing the Species Conservation Act, 2025 – A Grave Threat to Ontario’s Birds and Biodiversity

Comment:

As co-chair of Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington, I am writing to express our strong opposition to the proposed Species Conservation Act, 2025, introduced through Schedule 10 of Bill 5. This legislation represents a sweeping rollback of science-based protections for Ontario’s most vulnerable wildlife. We are particularly alarmed by the following provisions:

- The removal of all provincial protections for 35 bird species currently listed under the federal Species at Risk Act or assessed as “Special Concern” by COSEWIC. These include the Wood Thrush, Eastern Meadowlark, and Canada Warbler—species that depend on Ontario’s forests, wetlands, and grasslands for survival.

- The narrowing of habitat protections to only the dwelling place and its immediate surroundings. This change ignores the ecological reality that species rely on broader landscapes for foraging, migration, and reproduction. It effectively strips away protections for the ecosystems that sustain them.

- The elimination of recovery strategies and response statements, which removes structured, science-informed pathways for species recovery.

- The introduction of a “registration-first” model, allowing harmful activities to proceed without prior review or mitigation.

- The weakening of COSSARO’s role and the exclusion of migratory birds and aquatic species, further eroding transparency, accountability, and ecological coherence.

Southern Ontario is a biodiversity hotspot and a critical migratory corridor. In Hamilton and Burlington, we have invested years of effort into promoting bird-safe design, protecting green spaces, and educating the public about the importance of biodiversity. This legislation threatens to undo that progress and accelerate the decline of species already in peril.

We urge the Government of Ontario to withdraw Schedule 10 of Bill 5 and reinstate robust, science-driven protections for species at risk. Conservation is not a barrier to development—it is a prerequisite for a healthy, resilient future.

Respectfully,
Sara Shwadchuck
Co-chair, Bird Friendly Hamilton Burlington