As a biologist in Ontario…

As a biologist in Ontario for the last 20 years, this bill would be devastating to our delicate ecological balance. For wildlife, their habitat is so much more than their den or root zone, it is the entire supported ecosystem that sustains their life. As someone used as an example, it's like protecting your bed, but not your property. You'll have a place to sleep, but no way to sustain yourself. If passed, this bill would not be sustainable for ecology. The impacts in Ontario will ripple out into other provinces and countries. We have some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and by not protecting them we are putting the world at risk. I know some thoughts behind this are that "the species are in other provinces or countries" but by reducing the protection here in our province, we are reducing the genetic diversity of the overall population, pushing extinction for many species. Please, government of Ontario, please reconsider this bill, it will not help us to have houses if the world is on fire.