More Ontario laws and policy that help protect species at risk

The federal list of species at risk is determined by the federal government, based on the recommendations of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).  In most cases, the federal and provincial lists of species at risk are the same, but there are some differences. COSSARO assesses all the Ontario species that are listed as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern federally.

Ontario has several other laws that help protect species at risk and their habitats.

A policy under the Planning Act called the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) is used by land use planners and others to help make sure that species at risk are not harmed by land development. For example, the PPS states that development is not permitted in significant habitats of endangered and threatened species.

Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, you cannot hunt, trap, buy or sell the "specially protected wildlife” listed in the Act. The list contains a number of species at risk.

The Crown Forest Sustainability Act requires that Forest Management Plans take threatened and endangered species into account and protect them within the area covered by the plan.

The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and the Ontario Parks policy also include provisions to protect species at risk in parks and protected areas.
 
You can search and view all of Ontario’s laws at Service Ontario's E-laws website.