Doug Ford continues to push…

Doug Ford continues to push for developers to destroy important habitat for species for their own personal gain. Take for example the past changes proposed for developers in the Greenbelt. I understand that more housing is needed in Ontario; however by passing Bill 5 and making significant changes to the protection for threatened and endangered species, which need our help more than ever he is the wrong way to go.

I am aware from the past changes to the MNRF to MECP that a significant amount of species at risk biologists either changed or lost their jobs. By reducing the amount of staff able to review Information Gathering Forms and ESA permit applications - of course would cause delays, After that, now there is now a push for more housing and development coincidentally.

By changing the definition of habitat as proposed in the changes to the ESA is incorrect and not based on science. Habitat is defined as " place where an organism or a community of organisms lives, including all living and nonliving factors or conditions of the surrounding environment." https://www.britannica.com/science/habitat-biology. By changing the definition in the ESA to a den or nest does not include all of the factors that an animal needs to survive and is just wrong.

These changes will abandon Ontario's duty to protect species at risk and will be a death sentence for many species. By removing any recovery strategies which have been a requirement for endangered and threatened species will lead to many species becoming extirpated. This is because we need to build mines and housing faster? The purpose of the creation of the ESA was to help preventing species from becoming extirpated and extinct!

In addition, Bill 5 will create special economic zones which allow proponents to destroy habitat and by pass any requirement to consult with First Nations. This violates indigenous rights! Consulting First Nation communities is important and needs to be a requirement.

I would like changes to the ESA be re-considered by the provincial government so future generations will be able to enjoy the gifts of nature we should all care about.