I am deeply concerned by the…

I am deeply concerned by the proposal to allow the Government of Ontario to add and remove species from the list of species protected under the future Species Conservation Act.

The ability for Government officials to override scientific, evidence-based decision making would open the door to political interference in the process of assessing whether a species is endangered. Species should only be added or removed from a list when science says it is safe to do so, and never because an MPP or Minister finds it inconvenient.

I request that this section either be repealed from the list of proposed changes. Alternatively, I would suggest that this proposed change is amended to only allow Ministry officials--who are required by law to be non-partisan--to make such decisions.