Ontario Nature Blog

When the federal and provincial governments started to announce pandemic-related shutdowns in March, the first things that crossed my mind were the safety of my aging parents, and whether I could keep my job, work from home and provide childcare at the same time. It was shocking to watch how many news reports and Facebook posts were dedicated to… toilet paper. To be frank, ...

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When the Government of Ontario announced the finalized Forest Sector Strategy last week, it begged the question – when a forestry strategy falls in the forest, does anybody hear? Despite the Province lining up a queue of logging companies and affiliates to state their resounding support, the Forest Sector Strategy received almost no mainstream media ...

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Plant lovers are turning their focus from tending houseplants to giving outdoor gardens new life. In a year when so many of us are working from home, staring over the computer screen into our backyards, a little garden work is just what the doctor ordered.   While the houseplant trend rages on, another horticulture trend has been taking root. From home gardeners to growers to municipalities, people are starting to ...

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In the summer of 2020, many millions of spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar, LDD) caterpillars emerged across Ontario, causing ecological concern from North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie to Windsor and Ottawa. In the summer of 2021, the species commonly named as gypsy moth was renamed spongy moth. The former common name of the species ...

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On July 8, the Government of Ontario introduced an omnibus bill (Bill 197) which proposes to amend 20 pieces of legislation with minimum debate in the Legislature and no public consultation. Ramming it through at lightning speed, the government may sneak the new law through as early as next week, minimizing any opportunity for public ...

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