Approach

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s Position on Bill 5 – Protect Ontario By Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025

June 3, 2025

On April 17, 2025, the Ontario government introduced Bill 5: Protect Ontario By Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. This omnibus bill includes proposed changes to several existing provincial laws and introduces new legislation that could affect environmental policy and land use planning in the province.

Among the proposed changes are updates to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act, 2007 -replacing it with a new Species Conservation Act – as well as the introduction of the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025.

These changes include:

A narrower definition of species at risk habitat
Government discretion to add or remove species from the at-risk list
Removal of requirements to develop recovery strategies and management plans
Removal of provincial protections for aquatic species and migratory birds already covered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA)
A shift to a registration-based approach for permitting activities affecting species at risk

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has reviewed the proposed legislative changes and submitted comments through Ontario’s Environmental Registry. Our submission addresses potential implications for species protection, land management, and wetland conservation.

Read DUC’s full submission; ERO#025-0380 & #025-0416 Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act 2025 (PDF)

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s partnership with the Province of Ontario

DUC has a long history of working with the provincial government to advance wetland conservation. We are committed to working with the province to ensure that any policy changes continue to support the protection of Ontario’s wetlands, natural landscapes and biodiversity.