I do not agree with the…

I do not agree with the proposed changes. The provincial government should not have control over which species are considered at risk or endangered - this should be a scientific exercise done by ecologists and experts on an independent committee. The narrow redefinition of the concept of “habitat” is laughable. As humans we know that sustaining a meaningful existence requires more than a home to sleep - we also need drinkable water, edible food, and air that we can breathe. Without protections for the ecosystems that sustain life we endanger all species, including ourselves. These changes make explicitly clear the Ontario government’s interest in eliminating protections for the environment in order to push forward with capital extraction. Unfortunately, such measures will only make Ontario less livable for all of us.

Creating a sustainable future will require more creative thinking than the same old sale of raw materials. Why not invest in new ideas for conservation, and for living sustainably rather than driving increased consumption?

I do not support the proposal as currently written.