Ontario Nature’s Campaign to Repeal Bill 5: A Growing Movement for Change

Ontario Nature continues to lead a broad campaign to repeal Bill 5, legislation that weakens environmental protections, threatens species at risk and undermines Indigenous Rights. This month, our efforts to highlight Bill 5’s consequences – including its impact on Ontario’s polar bears – reached wide audiences through the CBC, National Observer and many more.

Working in partnership with Indigenous leader Michel Koostachin of Friends of the Attawapiskat River, we co-authored an opinion piece in The Narwhal examining the social cost of “special economic zones”, and calling for responsible development that respects both people and ecosystems.

At Queen’s Park, with the support of MPP Peter Tabuns, we submitted a legislative petition backed by more than 1,700 signatories, including farmers and labour allies, urging the Government of Ontario to repeal Bill 5. The government needs to respond within a month.

Public engagement remains central to this work. We invite all Ontarians to stay involved by signing and sharing our Action Alert to repeal the Bill and help secure a healthy environment for future generations.

If you live in Toronto, we also invite you to learn about ongoing efforts against Bill 5, including an upcoming legal challenge. On November 18th, Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence (LAND) and Ramon Kataquapit, founder of Okiniwak Indigenous Youth Movement from Attawapiskat First Nation, are co-hosting a film screening and public discussion at the Center for Social Innovation. Learn more and register here.

Give the Gift of Nature This Holiday Season

Give a special gift of nature this holiday season with a bag of bird-friendly Birds & Beans coffee, a subscription to ON Nature magazine and a 2026 Ontario Nature membership. This special promotion is the perfect, environmentally friendly gift for a loved one. Order your holiday gift of membership by December 9th for holiday delivery.

Giving Tuesday 2025 – Help Ontario Nature Expand Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve

Mark your calendars! December 2nd is Giving Tuesday, a day to give to the causes that mean the most to you. If you give to Ontario Nature this Giving Tuesday, you will be helping us to expand our Sauble Dunes Nature Reserve and protect globally rare habitat. You don’t have to wait until December 2nd – if you donate today your gift will be matched with a donation from Ontario Nature member Chris Robinson and our friends at Quest Nature Tours (up to $16,000)!

Thanks to Ontario Nature’s 2025 Volunteers

As we approach the end of 2025, we would like to recognize the tremendous work of our volunteers, each with their own unique skills and experiences, who helped protect wild species and wild spaces in Ontario. Thank you to the following individuals for their tireless efforts, time commitments and dedication:

• Nargis Noor and Ivan Adarme who supported inventories and our office move
• Marcey Essah, Elona Ishaya and Aanchal Kapoor for assisting with our conservation programs
• Eamon Mac Mahon for producing amazing videos showcasing our nature reserves
• Chahat Soi, Cristina Murano and Tam Anh Bui who worked on blogs, magazine articles and social media videos
• Muzaffer Malik and Jesica Sobers for digitizing back issues of ON Nature magazine
• Ray Eng who has been a tremendous help with our GoogleAds grant

We are grateful for all other volunteers who have helped to steward nature reserves, plant trees, do bird counts, complete administrative work or support our mission in other ways. Thank you!

New Herpetofauna Identification Quiz!

Ontario is home to 47 species of reptile and amphibians, including 15 snakes, eight turtles and 10 frogs. Test your identification skills of these often elusive animals with our new all species quiz. You can read more about reptile and amphibian species in Ontario and how to distinguish them in our online field guide. For a more detailed account of the native and non-native species in the province, you can read the comprehensive Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas publication. 

You Help Us Make a Difference for Nature!

Our work advocating for more protected places, safeguarding wild species, connecting people to nature and so much more is made possible by your support – thank you! You can read about these accomplishments in our 2024–2025 Report to Donors.

Get Your Ontario Nature Greeting Cards

Wish your family and friends a festive holiday season with our exclusive greeting cards. Proceeds support our work to protect wild species and wild spaces in Ontario. Get yours while supplies last! To ensure that your greeting cards arrive in time for the holidays, please place your order no later than December 9th.