Protect Ontario’s wetlands!

Under Doug Ford, Ontario’s wetlands are under serious threat.

As a part of Doug Ford’s sprawl agenda, projects like Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass and Bill 5 put some of our most critical ecosystems at risk.

Already, Ontario has lost more than 72% of its original wetlands.

Wetlands that clean our drinking water, store carbon, reduce the risk of flooding and provide habitat for species already on the brink.

Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

Instead of protecting what remains, the Ford government has:

Weakened the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES)
Undermined Conservation Authorities
Eliminated Environmental Assessments for major development in so-called “special economic zones”

This is a dangerous path. That’s why the Ontario Greens are calling for urgent action.

We’re asking the government to:

Immediately reverse Bill 5 and reinstate requirements for EAs on all development projects
Reverse the changes to Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES)
Reinstate Ontario’s 2017–2030 Wetland Conservation Strategy
Restore the authority of Conservation Authorities
Cancel Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass
Expand the Greenbelt to include a Bluebelt to protect waterways and a Foodbelt to preserve farmland
Introduce a province-wide net-gain wetland policy that increases overall wetland cover

It’s time to stop the destruction and start restoring what we’ve already lost.

Join us in demanding stronger wetland protections from the Ford government.

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Send a message to Premier Ford

I’m writing to urge you to stop putting Ontario’s wetlands at risk for the sake of unnecessary sprawl and reckless development. Wetlands are not expendable. They clean our drinking water, protect our communities from flooding, store carbon and provide critical habitat for wildlife. Already, we’ve lost more than 70% of Ontario’s original wetlands. Bill 5, the weakening of Environmental Assessments, the gutting of the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System and projects like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass are all accelerating the loss of these vital ecosystems. Ontario needs leadership that values the environment and puts people ahead of powerful developers. I’m calling on you to: - Immediately reverse Bill 5 and reinstate Environmental Assessments for all development projects - Reverse the changes to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES) - Reinstate and implement Ontario’s 2017–2030 Wetland Conservation Strategy - Restore the authority and independence of Conservation Authorities - Cancel Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass - Expand the Greenbelt to include a Bluebelt to protect waterways and a Foodbelt to preserve farmland -Introduce a province-wide net-gain wetland policy that ensures we restore more wetlands than we lose We can’t afford to keep destroying what protects us. It’s time to restore wetland protections, cancel destructive projects, and commit to a healthier, more climate-resilient future for Ontario.

You can submit this letter as-is or change it to reflect your own priorities. Your comment will be forwarded with the subject line “Stop the destruction of Ontario’s wetlands”, including your name, email and postal code to Premier Ford. You will also be added to the GPO mailing list but you can unsubscribe at any time.