"We are proposing a Minister…

"We are proposing a Minister’s regulation to temporarily pause the protections for Black Ash under the Endangered Species Act, for two years from the time it is added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List regulation. This would allow time to develop an approach to support Black Ash protection and recovery that considers social and economic impacts."
COSEWIC Reason for Designation: Approximately 51% of the global range of this tree is found in Canada. Subpopulations in the central part of the distribution have been devastated by Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle. This invasive species was first detected in Canada (Windsor, Ontario) in 2002 and has since expanded its range as far west as Winnipeg, Manitoba, and east to Bedford, Nova Scotia.
From that designation alone, Black Ash's protection should not be up for debate. This is one of the few species that thrives in very wet areas such as swamps. Black Ash supports many bird communities and can live up to 250y/o. Black Ash is also known as Basket Ash as it is a significant part of native heritage in Ontario and North America (good read: https://www.americanindianmagazine.org/.../black-ash...).