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The “Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025” is proposed legislation that would change the purpose and effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, allow political agenda to override science, and more. We encourage all Ontario residents to submit a comment through the Environmental Registry of Ontario by May 17, 2025. If you’d like tips on how to write a letter or a more detailed breakdown of the proposals, please visit our friends at Eco Justice by clicking here. The Narwhal also has an in-depth review of the proposals you can read by clicking here.
Below is a copy of The Fur-Bearers’ submission to the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
May 15, 2025
We write on behalf of The Fur-Bearers to oppose proposed changes to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act under Bill 5.
The Fur-Bearers is a non-partisan, Canadian charity founded in 1953 to protect fur-bearing species through conservation, advocacy, research, and education
Bill 5 proposes substantial weakening of existing safeguards for at-risk species and their habitats. Further, the bill reduces the role of independent, scientific experts in assessing species at risk and gives discretionary power to the Minister. This is reducing public oversight and transparency, environmental rights, and allows for political agendas to override common sense and the precautionary principle.
Allowing development and other harmful activities in critical habitats – which go far beyond the nest and/or den of an animal – is not something that can be fixed or undone. Once species and habitat are lost, they’re lost forever. Given the clear public backlash to similar development proposals – such as opening the Greenbelt or expanding the Hamilton urban boundary – it is apparent that this Bill overrides what Ontarians prioritize when it comes to the environment.
As the stewards of our wildlife and environment, it is the responsibility of the Ontario government to protect the over 200 species at risk and critical habitat for future generations. The Endangered Species Act was developed to ensure transparency, public participation and accountability. Bill 5 undermines these clear principles, which are supported by the majority of the public.
Healthy ecosystems provide vital services with real economic value. Ontario’s natural systems offer clean water, climate regulation, pollination, and flood protection. Damaging these systems will have long-term costs for public health, the economy, and community sustainability—costs that will fall on governments and taxpayers.
Bill 5 undermines sustainable economic growth. It risks job losses in tourism, agriculture, forestry, and other sectors dependent on a healthy environment, while signalling to investors that Ontario is willing to sacrifice environmental standards for short-term gain. Strong environmental laws support—not hinder—innovation, resilience, and green job creation.
We ask that Bill 5 be withdrawn completely, or significantly altered to reinstate effective, evidence-driven measures for endangered species, and take seriously the input of Indigenous communities, the scientific community, and the general public.
Your responsibility to protect the environment includes protecting its future health from the government, too.
Michael Howie
Ontario Resident
Director of Communications
The Fur-Bearers
