Bill 5 Threatens Wildlife and Biodiversity Across Northern Ontario

Ontario’s Bill 5 fast-tracks industrial development at the expense of environmental safeguards and Indigenous rights. One of the most urgent and irreversible consequences of this legislation is its impact on wildlife, biodiversity, and the delicate ecosystems that sustain life in the North.

Caribou are already at risk in Ontario. Bill 5 removes key habitat protections and speeds up development in critical wintering grounds.

A Pattern of Disregard for Wildlife Protections

Bill 5 continues a troubling pattern by the Ontario government. In recent years, key protections have already been weakened, including the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Declaration Order (OMNR 75) and the stripping away of requirements tied to the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act has now been repealed and replaced by the Species Conservation Act, which significantly reduces the protections available to species at risk and weakens habitat recovery standards [1].

Bill 5 deepens these harms by enabling the Province to create Special Economic Zones (SEZs), where environmental oversight can be suspended entirely to accelerate development [2]. Within SEZs, forests can be clear-cut, wetlands drained, and waterways disrupted — without environmental assessments, zoning checks, or Indigenous consultation. These are the very habitats relied upon by moose, caribou, wolves, songbirds, fish, and countless other species.

A Direct Threat to Northern Ecosystems

Northern Ontario is home to boreal forests, rivers, and wetlands that function as carbon sinks, wildlife corridors, and cultural landscapes. But under Bill 5:

• Wildlife corridors are fragmented by roads, mines, and industrial activity.

• Species at risk lose legal protections, exposing critical habitats to destruction [1].

• Waterways and riparian zones — vital to fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals — can be altered or polluted.

• Migratory routes and nesting areas for birds are disrupted [3].

  
  

According to WWF Canada, over 40% of bird species in Ontario are already in decline — Bill 5 threatens to accelerate this crisis by eroding the systems meant to protect nesting and feeding areas [3]. Wildlife Preservation Canada also notes that even small-scale habitat disruptions can have wide-ranging impacts on fragile species populations, particularly for migratory birds and amphibians [4].

The consequences are clear: fewer protections mean shrinking habitat, declining populations, and a weakening of biodiversity that affects not only animals, but entire ecosystems and human communities.

Black bears rely on large, connected territories for food and survival. Bill 5 ignores this need by clearing the path for unchecked development.

Ontario Ignores Global Biodiversity Commitments

Ontario has not committed to the global “30x30” goal — a target to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 [2]. This target is supported by Canada and the international community to preserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

In contrast, Wahkohtowin’s owner First Nations are actively working toward 30x30 through stewardship initiatives like the Height of Land Ecological Corridor, land-use planning, and Indigenous Guardian programs. These projects not only protect ecosystems but uphold Indigenous law, knowledge, and responsibility.

Bill 5 directly undermines these efforts by allowing unchecked development in some of the most ecologically and culturally sensitive regions of the province.

We Need Land Use Planning That Prioritizes Biodiversity

As the next round of 10-year Forest Management Plans (FMPs) comes forward, there is an urgent need to maintain spatial retention of key biodiversity areas — places where animals find food, shelter, and safe passage. Wahkohtowin continues to emphasize the importance of protecting wetland functions, riparian zones, and traditional harvesting areas as part of our holistic stewardship approach.

SEZs bypass these thoughtful processes, placing short-term profits above long-term ecological and cultural survival.

Standing for the Land, Water, and Wildlife

At Wahkohtowin, we believe protecting wildlife is not separate from protecting culture, health, or sovereignty. The wellbeing of moose, caribou, wolves, and waterfowl is deeply tied to the wellbeing of the people who live with and learn from them.

We call on the Ontario government to repeal or revise Bill 5, and to honour its obligations to Indigenous Peoples and the planet. Respecting Indigenous governance and upholding environmental protections are not obstacles — they are the path forward.

Our lands are not development zones. They are sacred ecosystems, and our relatives live there.

References

[1] OKT Law. (2025). Five things to know about the repeal of the Endangered Species Act. Retrieved from https://www.oktlaw.com/five-things-to-know-about-the-repeal-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-the-introduction-of-the-species-conservation-act/

[2] The Pointer. (2025, May 10). Proposed Bill 5 threatens Ontario wildlife and ecosystems. Retrieved from https://thepointer.com/article/2025-05-10/proposed-bill-5-threatens-ontario-wildlife-and-ecosystems

[3] WWF Canada. (2025). Ontario’s Bill 5 would make it even harder for birds to survive. Retrieved from https://wwf.ca/stories/ontarios-bill-5-birds/

[4] Wildlife Preservation Canada. (2025). Concerns for Bill 5. Retrieved from https://wildlifepreservation.ca/blog/concerns-for-bill-5/

Written by: Sara Bilodeau