This new legislation…

This new legislation replacing the former Endangered Species Act demonstrates clear prioritization of the economic interests of industry over the protection of species, and political discretion without adequate oversight, transparency or accountability over democratic deliberation and sound science. It effectively ensures the continued decline of species and biodiversity in this province. Economic growth that imperils species is not sustainable. It threatens human health, community resilience and the long-term economic well being of Ontario.

The changes introduced fail to protect the habitat on which species depend for their survival by narrowing the definition of that term in a way that bears no concordance with reality, and thereby allowing activities that will destroy species' habitat, which is the main driver of their decline. The removal of ESA provisions against harassment allows for the interference in species behaviour and life processes that are necessary for their conservation.

Granting the government discretion to override independent determinations of protected species is unacceptable. Allowing political intervention of this sort runs completely counter to a science-based approach to species management.

Removing requirements to develop recovery strategies and management plans, government response statements, and reviews of progress demonstrates a lack of commitment to ensure conservation programs and initiatives result in species’ recovery.

The registration-first approach of authorizing activities that harm species without any criteria for registration being defined in the Act is a failure to regulate the fundamental activities putting species at risk. Having a large portion of projects use a registration process does not justify applying that process to all projects.

The protection of federal at risk species under the current ESA is not a "duplication" of anything. The changes introduced with this new legislation mean these species are no longer protected on provincial lands, limiting the range where they will be protected, which will obviously negatively impact many at risk species.

There is a difference between eroding species protection and streamlining processes. This legislation is clearly meant to achieve the former under the guise of the latter.