ORA strongly opposes the proposed interim changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) and the introduction of a new Species Conservation Act, 2025, as outlined in ERO 025-0380. The proposed changes would seriously erode science-based protections for species at risk (SAR), contravene the precautionary principle, prioritize extractive and industrial development over ecological integrity and biodiversity conservation, and fail to uphold the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate Indigenous communities.
The proposals in ERO 025-0380 represent a dangerous rollback of endangered species protections in Ontario. They are not rooted in science, violate the precautionary principle, and fail to uphold legal and moral obligations to future generations and Indigenous Peoples. The government must abandon this regressive path and recommit to the conservation and recovery of Ontario’s rich biodiversity.