As a biologist the proposed…

As a biologist the proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act are deeply concerning, and frankly short sighted, demonstrating a complete lack of understanding or care for the environment by the Ford government. At a time of biodiversity collapse and climate change, clawing back environmental protections in this manner is completely unacceptable. In terms that a conservative would understand, southern Ontario’s biodiversity is worth $122 billion dollars. Just in southern Ontario. The importance of places like the Hudson’s Bay lowlands are nearly incalculable given the carbon capture and storage services it completes. Protecting these areas through legislation, such as the Endangered Species Act, is of the utmost importance. The purpose of protecting species at risk and all of the habitat, as the current act does, not only benefits the protection of those species but these ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity. And the Ford government wants to completely deregulate these areas? This isn’t only an affront to decades of species and habitat protections, but to the health, safety, and well-being of Ontarians who rely on these ecosystem services.

Unfortunately, this is not a surprising move from a premier who only has a high school diploma. I guess we know how he graduated in the first place since this proposed deregulation is clearly plagiarizing the orange clown down south.