Toronto, May 16, 2025 | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A day before the public comment period closes on the Ontario government’s Proposed interim changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and a proposal for the Species Conservation Act, 2025 (ERO 025-0380) over 100 local and national organizations are submitting a joint letter to oppose the proposed changes.

Among the concerns cited are limiting what is considered protected habitat, the elimination of species recovery strategies, politicization of species listings, and the failure to acknowledge Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent.

Instead, signatories are calling on the government to strengthen the Endangered Species Act so that wildlife can flourish, communities can benefit from conservation and Indigenous rights are respected.

According to Ontario Nature’s Campaigns and Advocacy Manager, Shane Moffatt:

“We are all impacted by the loss of biodiversity around us, whether it’s the smallest frog or the largest caribou. Healthy habitats clean the air we breathe and purify the water we drink. These short-sighted proposals may benefit industry and developers in the short term, but they will open a Pandora’s box of problems for future generations.”

We cannot use economic uncertainty and tariff threats as an excuse to weaken environmental protections and ignore Indigenous rights. Ontarians care about nature and want their government to protect our enviable natural areas and biodiversity. The Government of Ontario must invest in the protection and restoration of nature for the province’s long-term well-being and resilience.

Background

• Read the joint letter signed by more than 100 organizations.
• Over 13,000 Ontarians have signed Ontario Nature’s petition urging Premier Ford not to proceed with Bill 5 and plans to scrap the Endangered Species Act.
• In 2024 for the first time in Canadian history, a terrestrial species listed as Endangered was reassessed as Extirpated (i.e. locally extinct) by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) – Ontario Blanchard’s Cricket Frog. Federal consultations on confirming this status under the Species at Risk Act conclude on May 19th.

Contact

• John Hassell, Ontario Nature, johnh@ontarionature.org, 416-786-2171

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About

Ontario Nature protects wild species and wild spaces through conservation, education and public engagement. A charitable organization, Ontario Nature represents more than 30,000 members and supporters, and 150 member groups across Ontario (charitable registration # 10737 8952 RR0001).

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