Dear Doug Ford, I am a…

Dear Doug Ford,

I am a Freshwater Mussel, a secretive but essential animal that depends on Ontario's rivers and wetlands to survive. Of 55 species in Canada, 41of me are found in Ontario, 16 are currently on the species at risk list and another 12 are soon to be critically imperilled and likely to join my other SAR friends on that list (the one that you are trying to rid of)...... You likely don't even realize I exist however I play a vital role in maintaining our valuable ecosystems by removing suspended particles and pollutants, which helps to clean water. Some of us are only 10cm long yet we can filter up to 40L of water a day and live to 100 - that's way longer than you'll ever live.. We also help stabilize the riverbed and are a vital link in the food chain as they are a source of food for many animals including fish, turtles, birds, and mammals.

My survival is in serious jeopardy-not just from habitat loss, but from Bill 5, the greatest threat to my existence. By eliminating the Endangered Species Act, Bill 5 strips away the protections that keep species like me from disappearing, prioritizing industry over biodiversity and sacrificing critical habitats for short-term gain. Without strong protections, Ontario's rivers and wetlands-and the species that rely on them-will suffer. I will NOT be protected by federal legislation alone.

I understand the need to increase development - but my existence does not need to wiped from present day existence.

l urge you to reverse Bill 5, restore strong safeguards, and ensure Ontario's wildlife-including me-has a future to continue providing YOU with a healthy life.

Sincerely,
The incredibly important yet wildly under-appreciated, Freshwater Mussel