I have reviewed the proposed…

I have reviewed the proposed changes and find them alarming. They do not respect scientific definitions. A "habitat" cannot refer to a single dwelling of an animal or to the immediate surroundings of a single plant. "Habitats" are ecosystems where many species interact and work together to create appropriate conditions for survival. I would posit that for humans to survive, we should respect the ecosystems of our province and learn from them. While permissions may "take time" what is wiped out by irresponsible development is irreplaceable. I would strongly caution against making these changes - they will cause problems not only for the species we destroy, but ultimately for ourselves. This is demonstrable by the destruction of many wetlands across the province and building in river floodplains which have caused grief to homeowners with flooded basements and ultimately very high costs for government. As extreme weather events become more frequent we should be more cautious (not less) about building and developing quickly with inadequate information.