Ontario Nature Blog

Stratford is one of the many communities across Ontario struggling with the unwelcome imposition of a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to fast-track development. In Stratford’s case, the MZO is to make way for a glass factory on 175 acres of prime farmland at the edge of the city. Issued by the Minister of Municipal Affairs ...

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When Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) was brought into force in 2007, the Ministry of Natural Resources granted a one-year exemption to the forestry industry on the premise that industry needed time to develop a compliance framework. Since then, the forestry industry has claimed that the provincial Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA), under which it ...

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On September 28th, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada’s commitment to protect 25 percent of our lands and waters by 2025, and 30 percent by 2030. Here’s why these new targets matter and a look at progress to date:  The new targets are intended to drive an intergovernmental effort to address the interrelated crises of biodiversity loss, ecological degradation and climate change. Canada has signed onto the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature and joined the High Ambition ...

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Trees in and around urban areas maintain healthy communities. Trees not only provide the oxygen we breathe, they also play a vital role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, air pollution removal and energy conservation. But what if these benefits were purposely funneled to benefit only some communities? A report from the City of Toronto estimates ...

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While we are sleeping….. In light of the current pandemic, many people are rightly worried about our families, our communities and our economic security. But while we have tried our best to look after each other, the Government of Ontario is exploiting our fear and distraction to pursue a dubious agenda, including curtailing our democratic ...

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