I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the proposed shift to a registration-first approach that allows developers to begin projects immediately after submitting a registration, without the thorough environmental impact assessments typically required in a permitting process.

While I understand the intention behind streamlining the application process to facilitate economic growth, it is critical to prioritize environmental diligence. Bypassing comprehensive evaluations of potential impacts can lead to unanticipated harm to ecosystems, habitats, and endangered species. The risks associated with such an approach could result in significant and lasting damage to our environment.

In the article “How to Rescue Ontario’s Endangered Species Act: A Biologist’s Perspective,” the author highlights that the ESA was one of the strongest environmental protection acts when implemented. However, the changes made in June 2019 under the "More Homes, More Choice Act" have significantly reduced the ESA's ability to preserve Ontario’s environment. These changes include:

- Opening the membership of the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO).
- Modifying species status to widen geographical ranges beyond Ontario.
- Increasing timelines for species to be listed and delaying automatic protections.
- Allowing parties to pay into a fund instead of taking actual conservation actions for species at risk.

In my opinion, the current proposal for 2025 is misleading without acknowledging the implications of these 2019 changes. It is essential that any new processes ensure that environmental protections are not compromised, particularly in light of these recent legislative adjustments.

I urge decision-makers to carefully consider these implications and to prioritize environmental protection in any proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act and related legislation.

Thank you for your attention to this important issue.