Ontario is headed for an early election. Premier Ford has said he will trigger the election on Wednesday, January 29th.
As residents of Ontario, we must make nature conservation a prominent election issue. While issues related to affordability and tariff threats from the United States are likely to dominate headlines and the election campaign, we cannot afford to ignore the interrelated biodiversity and climate crises. All those issues are foundational to our long-term health and wellbeing, and economic prosperity. We can protect nature and address affordability.
The many challenges that our society faces will only be exacerbated by the continued degradation of the natural world.
Pickering, Ontario sprawl © Ken Nash CC BY-SA 2.0
Make Your Voice Heard
Before and during the election campaign, you have an opportunity to raise the profile of conservation issues with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, local candidates, political party leaders and the media.
In late 2024, Ontario Nature surveyed its board members, staff, Nature Network groups, members and supporters on their priorities for the upcoming provincial election. Based on that input, we have identified the following priorities:
Neyaashiinigmiing, unceded lands, Saugeen Peninsula © quietfyre CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Commit to a strategy to halt and reverse biodiversity decline in alignment with national and international targets by:
Protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030
Restoring and enhancing protections for Ontario’s species at risk
Enabling and respecting Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, and other Indigenous-led conservation efforts
Increasing climate adaptation funding to nature-based solutions (e.g., wetland restoration, tree planting)
Permanently protecting large intact forest areas of public lands from industrial resource extraction (e.g., mining and forestry)
Ensure Ontario’s provincial planning framework protects our ecosystems and biodiversity by:
Restoring the powers of the Conservation Authorities
Reversing changes to the Planning Act and the overall planning policy framework that encourage sprawl and weaken protections for natural heritage
Cancelling Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, instead investing in public and active transportation and increased density in existing urban boundaries
Reversing changes that limit the protections of all wetlands and that make it easier for them to lose their provincially significant status
Protecting, strengthening and expanding the Greenbelt
Mer Bleue Bog, Ottawa © National Capital Commission CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Your Vote Matters
A vote for nature is a vote to prioritize the issues noted above and correct course towards a more sustainable and liveable Ontario.
Never underestimate the power of people and the impact an individual can have. Please join Ontario Nature in calling for biodiversity and conservation action to be a priority!
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