Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Proposed Updates to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System.

The proposed changes will reduce the size and function of provincially significant wetlands by removing protection from wetland "units" making up a wetland complex.

According to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System manual, this loss will cause reduced flood protection, water quality improvement, recreation opportunities, and fish and wildlife habitat if reclassified wetland areas are converted to housing or other development.

Furthermore, the updates propose to divest the responsibility for wetland protection from MNRF to municipalities and wetland evaluators employed by developers. This will inevitably mean that there is less expertise to assess changes to wetland protection and greater pressure from developers.

Please do not proceed with the changes to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System.