Ontario Nature Blog

Late in September, the federal government introduced the more than 200-page omnibus bill, C-39, which continues a troubling pattern of increasing political discretion and weakening environmental review processes. The innocuous title, ‘An Act respecting certain measures to strengthen the economy’, contains a sweet of changes to how project decisions are made in Canada. Perhaps most ...

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With National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaching on September 30, 2026, it is an important time to reflect upon the ongoing legacy of colonialism, including within local and treaty contexts. Local governments are beginning to explore their own reconciliation paths and one municipality in Ontario – the Town of East Gwillimbury – is lighting the way for this work in York Region.   Since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to ...

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Ontario’s municipal elections are coming up on October 26, and the outcomes will set the tone for the next four years of decisions affecting nature in cities and towns across the province. Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved in securing a mayor and council that will prioritize the local ecosystems ...

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As of March 2026, an additional 588 hectares of locally protected lands in Ontario officially count towards Canada’s target to protect and conserve 30% of land and water by 2030, a goal established under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and commonly known as the 30×30 target. The 30×30 target is premised upon halting and reversing ...

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Ontario’s 2026 Budget, A Plan to Protect Ontario, arrives with familiar promises of economic resilience and infrastructure growth. But beneath the surface, a persistent gap remains: meaningful investments in nature. Similar to last year’s budget, the province continues to ignore the importance of biodiversity and nature to economic resilience, community well-being and Ontario’s long-term prosperity. ...

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