We strongly support a long…

We strongly support a long-term solution for the forest sector which recognizes the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) as an equivalent process to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The CFSA is balanced legislation that allows multiple forest values, including endangered species, to be considered when developing and implementing forest management plans.

We believe that the forest sector requires a permanent solution to the ESA, one that recognizes the CFSA as an equivalent process to the ESA for implementing species protections and contributing to healthy biodiversity on the landscape.

Also, the forest sector is an important driver of the northern economy and therefore a solution to the ESA is critical. A permanent solution through the CFSA will ensure that protections for endangered species are balanced with other important socio-economic outcomes. For example, moose conservation is an important socio-economic driver in northern Ontario but it can be argued that moose management and conservation has taken a back seat to many other species of interest via the ESA. This is often viewed as detrimental to the socio-economic benefits that can be realized when moose are managed for health and sustainability and through the Crown Forest Sustainability Act there are provisions to ensure that quality moose habitat is maintained across much of Northern Ontario.

Endangered species are important, and must be considered of course. But forestry resource jobs are among the top economic drivers for northern communities. Therefore, ensuring job futures and the economy must remain top priorities of the OMNRF and the Ontario Gov.

The best way to ensure a sustainable forest management policy for all forest management objectives is by making the CFSA an equivalent process to the ESA.