• Make Ontario Safer for Birds

Take Action Background Supporters & Partners News & Updates

Take Action

Take action today to ensure a safer future for birds!

Ontario’s Building Code sets minimum requirements for new construction, renovation, and change of use of buildings. Despite the availability of proven, affordable techniques to reduce bird collisions with buildings and a bird-friendly building design standard, there are no provisions in the Building Code to require they are used. By mandating bird-friendly building construction measures in the Building Code, Ontario could significantly reduce the number of birds that die needlessly each year.

Briefing

Summary of bird-building collision advocacy efforts.

Sign Petition

Help us reach 25,000 signatures: Sign this petition requesting that the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing adopt the CSA A460-19 Bird-Friendly Building Design standard.

Send Letter

Members of the public: Demand the Ontario government incorporate bird-safe design standards into the Ontario Building Code by sending a letter to Members of Provincial Parliament.

Add Your Voice

Industry professionals & NGOs: Add your voice to the joint letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing showing your support for the adoption of bird-safe building standards.

Content Guidelines

Learn about common public misconceptions related to bird-window collisions and outdated methods for collision prevention.

Background

With your support, Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) Canada, along with with MPP Chris Glover, Nature Canada and numerous partner organizations, are pushing for the Ontario Provincial government to incorporate bird-friendly building design requirements into the Ontario Building Code.

Collisions with windows on building kill millions of birds in Ontario each year and represent one of the greatest human-caused sources of bird deaths. The main reason why birds fly into windows is because birds do not see the glass, or fail to understand that reflections on the glass are not real places where they can fly. There are proven, affordable solutions and ways to design new buildings that reduce the risk of bird-window collisions, yet there are currently limited to no requirements for new buildings to be made safe for birds. A few municipalities such as Toronto have adopted bird-friendly guidelines or requirements, but this piecemeal approach does not go far enough to protect migratory birds across the province. Today, most new buildings constructed in Ontario use materials that are unsafe for birds, and thus contribute to an already widespread risk of collisions.

In 2019 the Ontario Provincial government sponsored the development of a national CSA standard for bird-friendly building design. Now, we are urging the Ontario government to adopt and implement the standard that they helped to create. We invite all residents of Ontario, and their elected representatives, to ensure a safer future for Ontario’s birds by speaking up today!

Supporters & Partners

News & Updates

  • In August 2024, FLAP worked with MPP Chris Glover to request information from the legislative research office of the Legislative Assembly on Ontario regarding  The response confirmed that 1) regulating building construction is a responsibility of the province, and 2) “protection of human, animal or plant life or health” falls within the scope of a legitimate objective that could qualify a variation of the province’s building code after harmonization has occurred.
  • In May 2024, FLAP worked with MPP Chris Glover to send a letter to the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry requesting information about the province’s implementation of a bird safe building design standard in its own infrastructure.
  • In April 2024, FLAP Canada submitted a proposed Code change request to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes for consideration as the National Building Code is updated in 2025. The submission provides a recommendation for the National Building Code to incorporate the CSA A460:19 Bird Friendly Building Design standard and provides justification and context for the proposal. The contents of the submission can be reviewed here.
  • In January 2024, FLAP Canada received information through the office of MPP Chris Glover that was requested from the Ontario Legislative Library. The Library was asked to address claims made by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra in his response to a request from a constituent about updating the Building Code. In summary, the Library’s report provides clarification and indicates that Minister’s claims are based on misinformation. There is no legitimate procedural or legal reason why the Government of Ontario cannot incorporate the CSA A460:19 Bird Safe Building Design Standard into the province’s Building Code as proposed by Bill 145: Bird-Safe Windows Act.
  • In October 2023, FLAP Canada delivered a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing signed by over 50 organizations from across Ontario, urging the province to pass Bill 145: the Bird-Safe Windows Act, 2023, and addressing the necessity and feasibility of implementing bird safe design through the Ontario Building Code. View the letter.
  • The Ontario NDP, Liberal and Green Parties’ leadership support calls to update the provincial building code with a bird friendly standard and make all new building construction in Ontario safe for birds. View the letter.
  • Rally for a Bird-Friendly Ontario hosted by FLAP Canada with MPP Chris Glover and Shadowland Theatre on April 5, 2022 at Queen’s Park, Toronto
  • In April 2022, FLAP Canada alongside nearly thirty elected Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) sent this letter to the Ontario Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks David Piccini to request information about the Endangered Species Act as it applies to bird window collisions and bird friendly building design. We received a response from the Minister that neglected to address any of the questions posted in our letter. Read the letter and questions here.
  • Letter to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing requesting amendments to the Ontario Building Code

Stay Informed About This Campaign

Blackburnian warbler on a branch
Photo: Ray Hennessy

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