I strongly object to the…

I strongly object to the proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007, as well as the proposed creation of a Species Conservation Act, 2025. My primary concerns are the complete withdrawal of the existing legislation that protects species at risk and the redefinition of “habitat” under the proposed new legislation.

I oppose the freedom the new proposed legislation, coupled with other legislation proposed under Bill 5 Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act which is currently under debate in the legislature, offers to both the government and to private business interests to destroy wetlands, grasslands and forests in the interests of “development.” I also oppose the government’s decision to give itself extraordinary power to over-ride existing laws under the proposed Species Conservation Act, 2025. Finally, the proposed Species Conservation Act, 2025 does not even come close to comparing to the existing Endangered Species Act, 2007.

I think it is fair to say that all Ontarians want a healthy environmental system, as well as healthy communities that thrive by every measure. I would have thought our society had learned from experience that our actions can result in very negative outcomes for our wild neighbours. We experienced Acid Rain and we saw the populations of birds of prey rebound after DDT was banned. Today we know that each of us has about 1 spoonful of microplastics in our brains right now. We know we have lost 15 species of plants and animals in the province already, and we stand to lose more. We know our pollinators are under threat, that butterfly populations are in decline. We know Climate Change (whatever the origin of the phenomena) presents threats to human and non-human life today. And so on and so forth – there really seems no end of the pressing environmental issues facing not just Ontarians, but every single person in the world.

If change is needed, one would think that knowing 15 species have already been extirpated from the province now, that protections for endangered species would be intensified and strengthened.

Why is is there a need to gut accountability for decisions and actions? Why is this government seeking to create a system where anything goes? Where is the evidence that this is the only path forward?

My Ontario government would present the electorate with sound reasons as to why the only way forward is to further threaten 115 endangered species and 56 threatened species, and 50 species listed as being of Special Concern. That is 221 species altogether whose future is precarious at best without enhanced protections and actions to support their continued survival.

Therefore, I urge this government to enact stronger protections under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. I also want this government to recognize that as a part of Canada, we need to work to uphold the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and Act (which Canada signed on to in 2015).

I urge this government to immediately cease all efforts to exclude development projects from a Duty to Consult First Nations.

I also urge this government to expand existing natural areas (or to create re-naturalized areas), to implement a green transition, and to recognize that the earth’s systems are interlinked.

I remember when the Osprey returned to Ontario. They, along with Bald Eagles and Pelicans and other species including songbirds, were nearly exterminated in North America thanks to DDT. It took concerted efforts to stop the deleterious effects of DDT, and even after that goal was achieved, it took decades for bird populations to recover. So rare were Osprey in the 80’s and 90’s and even into the 2000’s, my father, a birder, made a special trip to the Durham area to see the first pair of Osprey who had returned. Similarly, the City of Brantford was very excited when a pair of Bald Eagles returned and began nesting within the city again around 2010. Last year, a pair of Bald Eagles began nesting in Toronto again. It has been a similar story, albeit with different reasons, with such wildlife as Canada Geese, White-tailed Deer, the Common Weasel and other species. Therefore I must ask why is the current government so intent on repeating past mistakes?

The main arguments for gutting protections and protective agencies for wild flora and fauna species already in danger of extirpation have been listed as:
* Complicated
* Takes too long to complete
* Causes “unnecessary” delays (unnecessary is not defined)
* and Causes “unnecessary” costs (again not defined) for housing, transit and critical infrastructure. There is no evidence of how these “unnecessary” costs affect the cited sectors. There also is no explanation as to how these sectors are expected to rebound financially with the eradication of the Endangered Species Act, 2007.

Instead of eliminating the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and replacing it with a gutless and meaningless Species Conservation Act, 2025 wherein no species are protected except at the whim of the government, I urge the government to beef up the Endangered Species Act, 2007, and to consider taking all legal action within its power to protect the identified 221 Species listed on the Species At Risk in Ontario official list.