I oppose the proposed SCA,…

I oppose the proposed SCA, as it represents a significant setback for Ontario’s species conservation efforts by weakening legal protections and oversight.
Ontario would remove already federally listed aquatic species from its protected list, ending provincial protections for these species. The loss of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act protections means that aquatic species relying on provincially regulated habitats, like small streams and wetlands, lose crucial protections. Federal laws generally focus on large waters, leaving gaps in protection for smaller or mixed-jurisdiction areas.
Ontario would remove provincial protections for many species, assuming that federal laws are sufficient. However, federal laws mainly protect the animals themselves, not their habitats. This gap means migratory birds, already in decline due to habitat loss, are now at greater risk because essential habitats may be lost or damaged without provincial protection.
Federal and provincial enforcement responsibilities are unclear, creating enforcement gaps and reducing meaningful project review.
64 ‘special concern’ species lose protection, removing an important tool for preventing further decline and contradicting best practices in conservation.
Regulatory oversight is weakened, shifting detailed reviews to a self-registration system where project proponents develop their own conservation plans with little expert oversight.
Overall, the changes shift the risk of species decline and habitat loss onto wildlife, undermining effective biodiversity protection in Ontario.