Overview

Invasive species threaten Ontario’s native plant and animal species. In 2015, the provincial government introduced and passed an Invasive Species Act to manage invasive plant species and protect Ontario’s ecological biodiversity.

The Act gives the provincial government the authority to eradicate invasive species in Ontario. The Act defines an invasive species as one that is “not native to Ontario, or to a part of Ontario, and is harming or likely to harm the natural environment of Ontario or of the part of Ontario in which it is present. Or, the invasive species is likely to harm the natural environment of Ontario or part of the province.”

Ontario’s Invasive Species Act establishes two classes of invasive species; prohibited invasive species, and restricted invasive species to prevent their arrival and control their spread in the province.

OFA Position

OFA supports the Invasive Species Act, but has concerns about how certain details of the legislation will affect farm businesses.

OFA believes the Invasive Species Act should recognize on-farm biosecurity protocols and personnel enforcing the legislation should be trained on biosecurity protocols by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.