Rollback of key safeguards opens the door to unchecked harm against species at risk
Toronto, Ont./ Traditional territories of several First Nations including the Williams Treaties First Nations, Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: In an appalling move that tramples over Indigenous rights, environmental protections, and community consultation, the Ford government today introduced the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025” — legislation that slashes regulatory oversight, silences local voices, and opens the floodgates to unchecked mining and industrial development.
The Ontario government tabled Bill 5, the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act.” Schedule 10 of the Act would repeal the Ontario Endangered Species Act and replace it with the Species Conservation Act. The Bill would also create the Special Economic Zones Act – legislation that would also allow the Provincial Cabinet to create law free zones for designated zones and project proponents.
The Bill would abandon Ontario’s commitment to protecting species and ensuring their recovery. The Species Conservation Act would replace the strict criteria for habitat protection with a discretionary regime. This regime would offer very limited protection to only a tiny fraction of the habitats species need to survive and recover.
For example, the Bill would narrow the definition of “habitat” for animals to exclude areas outside of dwelling places and the immediate area around it. For example, the habitat for a fox might consist only of its den and an area essential for the den. The den would have to be currently occupied or habitually occupied. The new legislation would also eliminate provincial protection for federally listed migratory birds and aquatic species — many of which are not adequately protected under Federal legislation, leaving significant gaps.
The Act would replace the science-based listing and permitting process, and give the government broad discretion to refuse to protect species and their habitats.
“The Ontario government is using the trade war as cover for its war on species.” said Laura Bowman, Staff Lawyer at Ecojustice. “There is no evidence that sacrificing our biodiversity, and running roughshod over our most precious and vulnerable natural assets will benefit Ontarians. The only thing that has been ‘unleashed’ with this bill is an irrational vendetta against vulnerable ecosystems, plants, and animals.”
Once considered strong legislation for endangered species protection, the Endangered Species Act has been steadily eroded by successive provincial governments seeking to pander to the special interests of big industry such as developers and forestry. This legislation would also erode the consultation rights of Indigenous people, by eliminating permits over a wide range of destructive activities.
“This is not streamlining — it’s steamrolling,” said Bowman. “Doug Ford and his government are putting profit over people and ecosystems, plain and simple.”
The bill proposes to:
- Gut environmental assessment processes.
- Fast-track mining and infrastructure development — including in ecologically sensitive and contested areas like the Ring of Fire — without proper consultation or consent from Indigenous communities.
- Adopt a “register-first, ask-questions-later” model for species-at-risk permits, allowing developers to proceed before environmental implications are fully known.
- Establish “special economic zones” where Cabinet can exempt areas and companies from applicable laws – a move that raises serious concerns around transparency, accountability, and environmental stewardship.
“This is a reckless, corporate giveaway disguised as economic policy.” said Margot Venton, Nature Program Director at Ecojustice. “This bill purports to create sacrifice zones, where all biodiversity and ecosystem values are traded for short term economic gain.”
Despite claims of maintaining environmental standards, the legislation undermines them at every turn. The bill prioritizes speed over scrutiny, eroding decades of hard-won protections in the name of “efficiency.” It also risks setting a dangerous precedent for bypassing meaningful Indigenous consultation, contravening constitutional obligations and the principles of reconciliation.
Ecojustice calls on all Ontarians to speak out against this dangerous bill. The cost of doing nothing is too high — for our water, our land, our future.
What you can do
This bill is open for public comment until May 17. The Bill may pass well before this date. That gives us a narrow window to act.
Don’t let Ford bulldoze over science, rights, and nature without a fight.
📣 Use your voice. Submit your comment here:
👉 Act Now
Let’s tell this government: Ontario is not for sale. Our species, our water, and our future deserve better.
About:
Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions and law and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax
