Polar bears, Threatened (COSSARO, 2021) © John Pitcher
After years of neglect, endangered species in Ontario are facing their biggest threat in a generation in the form of Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025.
If passed, Bill 5 would scrap the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and create “special economic zones” where developers and resource companies would be exempt from provincial regulations.
This situation is compounding a series of previous measures that the Ontario government has taken in recent years to dismantle protections for endangered species, including exemptions for the logging industry and “pay-to-slay” provisions.
Bill 5 also has the potential to trample Indigenous rights if it doesn’t respect the right to free prior and informed consent. Indigenous Peoples must be at the center of all discussions about sustainable economies and protecting endangered species.
Given the high stakes Bill 5 presents a big moment to mobilize for nature across Ontario. We’re calling on Premier Doug Ford to cancel the Bill and end the attacks on endangered species and inviting you to join us.
After Canada successfully hosted and landed a historic “Deal for Nature” (The Kunming-Montreal Agreement) in 2022, hopes were high for a new wave of government actions to halt biodiversity loss and respect Indigenous knowledge.
Some provinces have stepped up to the plate by committing to new protections, investing in conservation and partnering with Indigenous Peoples. In contrast, the Ontario government has dragged its heels on establishing new protected areas.
And yet, as provinces go, the people of Ontario are among the most enthusiastic for government action to preserve nature and biodiversity. Together, we can be a positive voice for nature by expressing our values loudly and clearly to the government.
If anything, Premier Ford should strengthen endangered species protection so wildlife can flourish and communities can benefit from conservation. That doesn’t mean stopping all development. It means building strong local economies that are in harmony with nature, not in conflict with nature.
No matter how he spins it, bulldozing endangered species protections is only going to unleash more problems in the long run. Healthy forests and waters sustain all Ontarians, not just endangered species. A handful of developers will rake in short-term profits, leaving the bill for the rest of us. We all rely on a healthy environment for the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Please join us in asking Premier Ford to end the attacks on Endangered Species and to stop Bill 5.
Shane Moffatt, Ontario Nature’s Conservation Campaigns and Advocacy Manager, is a settler living in Tkaronto (Toronto) on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. He has been advocating for environmental justice for almost twenty years and holds an LLM from the University of Toronto. Shane was previously head of Greenpeace Canada’s nature campaign and has extensive experience advocating for legislative reforms, supporting impacted communities and empowering the public to act. Shane is an avid hiker and is frequently found exploring the forests and wetlands of Southern Ontario with his partner.
