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© Lora Denis
Wolf Lake © Ryan Mariotti
Ontario is headed for an early election. Premier Ford has said he will trigger the election on Wednesday, January 29th.
As residents of Ontario, we must make nature conservation a prominent election issue. While issues related to affordability and tariff threats from the United States are likely to dominate headlines and the election campaign, we cannot afford to ignore the interrelated biodiversity and climate crises. All those issues are foundational to our long-term health and wellbeing, and economic prosperity. We can protect nature and address affordability.
The many challenges that our society faces will only be exacerbated by the continued degradation of the natural world.
Before and during the election campaign, you have an opportunity to raise the profile of conservation issues with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, local candidates, political party leaders and the media.
In late 2024, Ontario Nature surveyed its board members, staff, Nature Network groups, members and supporters on their priorities for the upcoming provincial election. Based on that input, we have identified the following priorities:
A vote for nature is a vote to prioritize the issues noted above and correct course towards a more sustainable and liveable Ontario.
Never underestimate the power of people and the impact an individual can have. Please join Ontario Nature in calling for biodiversity and conservation action to be an election priority!
Northern leopard frog © Jozsef Szasz-Fabian
We need to halt and reverse biodiversity decline by, amongst other things, enabling and respecting Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and other Indigenous-led conservation efforts.
We need to have our wetlands & farmlands protected.
Liveable is correct! Canada is not the 51st state !
Source water protection. Oxford county/ specifically Northern source waters need Help!!! Bill 23// no Natural Heritage Features in planning. Currently attempting to maintain 20 acres of ESA/ threatened species is a wetland. Oxford county/ Ernie Hardeman MPP sees no reason to be concerned. Clearly biodiversity/ threatened species/ water quality issues and issue. Upper Thames Conservation does planning approval with no Natural Heritage features/ ecological concerns/ planning based on Hazzards is very restrictive. Big pig/ OFA have caused enough damage in oxford county/ stand up for the environment/ right to water for all/ basic human rights.
Corrected. Thank you Owen Williams.
All of the issues you have stated are dear to my heart because there is nothing more important than healing our planet, and while healing is paramount, protecting is just as important. Ontario is a Great Lakes province. We need to be guardians of this precious water resource. Right now in the Straits of Mackinaw, part of our Great Lakes system, there is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Its name is Line 5. Line 5 is Enbridge’s 72 year old gas and oil dual pipeline lying on the lakebed where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet. Line 5 starts in Alberta, travels and crosses the US border at Wisconsin, continues across Wisconsin into Michigan, goes under the water at the Straits of Mackinaw that connects Upper and Lower Michigan and then on to Sarnia, Ontario for refining and sale in the US and Canada. When Line 5 was constructed supports were set up to keep the lines off the lakebed and to keep them in place in spite of incredibly strong currents that continue to run through the Straits of Mackinaw. Over the years the supports have crumbled allowing the lines to lay on the lakebed and to shift constantly due to those very strong, constant currents. The water in the Straits of Mackinaw is a shipping route for ships from around the world to carry products the the USA and Canada. When a ship has an issue the captain stops the ship and sends an anchor to the lakebed to keep the ship in place while the issue is solved. Line 5 has been hit by anchors twice that we know of. The likelihood is there have been many more undocumented anchor strikes over the past 72 years. Long story short we CANNOT wait for whatever might cause a rupture of one of or both of the Line 5 pipeline’s. Line 5 needs to shut down now. A rupture would contaminate both Lake Huron and Lake Michigan initially. As the currents do their work who knows how far the oil and gas pollution would travel? The Great Lakes are 25% of the worlds fresh water. We need to protect the Great Lakes, drinking water to million’s daily, not to mention the sensitive ecosystems and livelihoods of people living near the shores of all the Great Lakes. Honestly, I don’t understand why this issue is not the number one environmental issue on everyone’s mind. It can be solved, the Great Lakes can been saved from certain contamination by a Line 5 rupture. Shutting down Line 5 is imperative. No one can drink oil and or gas. Margaret McGrady
I just clicked the “Read More” on your recent email re preparing for the election. The page lays out some good starts in the right direction and I will read more soon and join in the conversation. I am taking this moment to remind you how important first impressions are. In the 6-photo array with links to further info, in the top right is the link to the Election Toolkit. Correct the spelling of livable.