An environmental organization warns that Ontario’s Bill 5 threatens the future of polar bears in the province. The Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act repeals the Endangered Species Act and introduces the Species Conservation Act.

Shane Moffat, conservation campaigns manager at Ontario Nature, says the new law offers weaker protections for threatened species. Under the Endangered Species Act, harming polar bear habitat was prohibited. With Bill 5, that’s no longer guaranteed,” he said.

Special Economic Zones and Development Risks

Bill 5 allows the cabinet to create “special economic zones” where projects—like mines or transportation infrastructure—may bypass provincial laws and municipal bylaws. The aim is to fast-track projects deemed nationally important to the economy.

Amy Baxendell-Young, manager of Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat in northern Ontario, warns that mining companies could harm polar bear habitats along Hudson Bay, home to 800–1,000 polar bears, if regulations are relaxed.

Climate Change Remains the Biggest Threat

Baxendell-Young emphasizes that climate change is still the greatest threat. “Longer ice-free periods prevent polar bears from hunting seals, their main prey. Peatland dens for cubs are also destabilizing,” she said. Ontario’s polar bear population has steadily declined over the past 10–20 years.

Government Response: “Robust Protections”

Alexandru Cioban, spokesperson for Ontario’s Environment Minister, states the Species Conservation Act establishes clear, enforceable rules and strengthens species conservation enforcement. The government will invest $20 million per year into an enhanced species conservation program.

The Act maintains the classification of species as extirpated, endangered, or threatened and prohibits actions likely to drive a species extinct in Ontario.