The current ESA is science…

The current ESA is science based, with the aim to protect species, ecosystem, and genetic diversity. The changes proposed in this bill are not science based and look to exploit Ontario's nature in a way that goes against the "not for sale" slogan. Already too many people with conflicting interests stand in the way of implementing the ESA as it was intended. By destroying nature we destroy our chance at sustainable economic growth. The ecosystem services we will lose to development will cost trillions to replace and we can never do the jobs as well as nature. Flood control, carbon sequestration, and water filtration just to name a mighty few. We are guaranteed to exasperated climate change by recklessly filling in wetlands, cutting down forests, and paving prairie ecosystems that are currently protected because of the Endangered Species Act. This will harm the quality of life for Canadians, illegally go against the rights of Indigenous groups, and reduce the diversity and therefore the function of all living things within the country. There are plenty of already degraded lands to develop, resource extraction applications that are already exempt from permitting oversight, and endless ways to reform policy that helps the middle-class instead of going forward with this bill. If you do not understand that the negative implications of this proposed bill outweigh any positive gains than you do not have the educational background to be making informed decisions for this province.