I strongly object to the…

I strongly object to the proposed amendments to the Endangered Species Act, 2007
The government has a responsibility to protect our natural heritage for the long term and should be focused on fulfilling this responsibility.
Instead, these proposed changes will put far too much control in the hands of developers, and will allow developers to exploit the province's natural resources.
The removal of harass" from Section 9 prohibitions against individual species would only leave "kill, harm, or capture" as prohibitions. This could be a significant change for many projects that would cause disturbance (noise, fear response, avoidance of an area, etc. ) that severely impact wildlife and species at risk.
Similarly, "habitat"is being given an extremely narrow definition that does not take into account the fact that species move during different life stages and seasons, and use broader territories for foraging, hunting, etc.
The proposed amendments would remove the requirements to develop recovery strategies and management plans, government response statements, and reviews of progress. These amendments would eliminate comprehensive environmental assessment processes and expedite mining initiatives, even in ecologically sensitive and contested territories.
In general, these changes are catastrophic to wildlife and the ecology of our province.
The Endangered Species Act, 2007 was a milestone in Ontario's protection of natural heritage. It should not be undone by the current government's obsession with growth at any cost.
I call on the government to take the long view and protect our province's natural heritage, including its endangered species and habitats.