Not in support of this…

Not in support of this proposal. Having been involved with various private conservation efforts, the importance of ecosystem interactions cannot be overstated -- so limiting the definition of habitat as the SCA proposal suggests will undoubtedly come at the detriment of vulnerable species. To say that only the immediate area an animal uses or the immediate area surrounding a plant's roots can be considered its habitat is intentionally misleading and negates the inherent interplay of species within and between habitats. Resource use within ecosystems changes year to year, and ranges shift for a multitude of reasons; waste products from surrounding development will leach into groundwater and impact watersheds and soil composition for the worse, reducing the prevalence of viable habitat for sensitive species, especially amphibians. It is fact that fragmentation of habitats reduces genetic diversity within species and makes them even more vulnerable to threats. It is common knowledge that wetland environments are already severely reduced and fragmented in Southern Ontario. If passed, this will be a massive step in the wrong direction, and it won't take average Ontarian long to figure that out. Unfortunately, it will be too late by then. The motivations for this proposal could not be more transparent: it is clear that the agenda of this 'new approach' is to placate developers. Let's ask ourselves, in seriousness, will Ontario's government really be adding new threatened, extirpated, and endangered species to the list? Not if any of those species are inconvenient for economic development. What 'experts' in the provincial government will have the authority to overrule the classifications provided by COSSARO? Why even bother keeping COSSARO at all, if their research is merely interpreted as a loose suggestion? The Greenbelt is universally beloved in our province, except perhaps by the elite few who stand to get rich from its destruction. Please think of the species who cannot speak for themselves and represent the interests of average Ontarians. The time is now to steward the good things that grow here in Ontario, even if they aren't extractable resources capable of generating profit. It's not just about the here and now -- it's about the next generation. The precious, wild beauty that characterizes our province should not be up for sale. Vulnerable native species must become a greater, not a lesser, priority for protection.