My concern is that the…

My concern is that the proposed changes to the Endangered Species are not about ensuing efficient recovery for Ontario’s at-risk species but, rather, to find even more efficiencies for industries that want to operate where these animals and plants live.

Ontario is home to 243 species at risk of extinction. In 2013, the province passed an amendment that exempts a broad suite of industrial and development activities from the rules against harming endangered and threatened species and their habitats. In other words, the ESA is already failing to effectively safeguard the habitat wildlife needs to survive.

Changes to the Endangered Species Act should improve protections, not water them down even further. Changes the government should make include:

• Working with other ministries to ensure coordination to limit cumulative impacts on the lands and waters that provide wildlife habitat.

• Repealing the long list of exemptions for forestry, hydro, mining and commercial development, approved by cabinet in 2013.

• Amending the law to set a higher bar for creating exemptions through regulation by ensuring they cannot jeopardize the recovery of threatened or endangered species.

• Ensuring local communities benefit from activities to maintain and restore endangered species and their habitat, including rural and northern communities.

• Supporting the continued leadership and critical role of Indigenous Peoples in conservation initiatives.