Loggerhead shrike © Laurie L Snidow
Toronto, April 22, 2025 | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – In a major setback for endangered species, the Government of Ontario tabled Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025. If passed, the Bill would significantly weaken the already limited protections afforded to biodiversity in Ontario.
Under Schedule 10, the government would amend and ultimately repeal the Endangered Species Act. Schedule 9 allows the government to create “special economic zones” in which developers and resource companies are entirely exempt from provincial regulations.
Says Ontario Nature Campaigns and Advocacy Manager Shane Moffatt:
“After years of neglect, endangered species in Ontario urgently need more protection, not less. Premier Ford should halt this ill-advised legislation and instead strengthen the Endangered Species Act so that wildlife can flourish and communities can benefit from conservation. No matter how he spins it, bulldozing endangered species protections is only going to unleash more problems in the long run. We all rely on a healthy environment for the air we breathe and the water we drink.”
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Background
- Bill 5 blog
- Bill 5 Action Alert
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
John Hassell, Ontario Nature, johnh@ontarionature.org, 416-786-2171
Ontario Nature protects wild species and wild spaces through conservation, education and public engagement. It connects thousands of individuals and communities with nature through 150 conservation groups, and 30,000 members and supporters across the province.