I oppose Bill 5 and the…

I oppose Bill 5 and the proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007.

These proposed changes create a significant risk that proponents would inappropriately initiate activities that harm the environment and species prior to obtaining ministry permits. This registration-first approach provides opportunity for corporations to profit by fast-tracking their operations, but it also increases the risk harm to species due to this reactive rather than preventative approach.

Also, winding down the Species at Risk Program Advisory Committee (SARPAC) will reduce the ministry’s effectiveness in protecting species. As the committee makes recommendations regarding the implementation of Ontario’s species at risk program, by winding down the committee, the province will not be able to implement the most effective solutions to protect species at risk.

Finally, the government should not have the discretion to modify the list of protected species, and it especially should not have the discretion to remove protected species from the list. The government should continue follow the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) and its assessments because it provides an independent science-based assessment.