The proposed changes to the…

The proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act (and replacement with the Species Conservation Act) are reckless and will contribute to the ongoing decline of species at risk in Ontario, all in the name of the economy. Proposed changes would give license to pave over the habitats that species rely on for their entire life cycles, despite the expertly wordsmithed description provided in the summary of proposal. The changes completely ignore the complexity of the interactions between species and their environment, and changing the definition of 'habitat' ignores the fact that species rely on multiple habitat types for breeding, rearing, travel, propagation, foraging, and overwintering - not just the 'den/dwelling place/residence'. This proposal amounts to the axing of the only tool currently in place for Ontario to protect its threatened and endangered species. Replacement with the significantly weakened Species Conservation Act and allowing all impacts to species at risk to go ahead with only the requirement to register opens the door to wholesale destruction of natural features that species at risk rely on to live. Yes, mitigation plans are a requirement of registration, but mitigation measures don't always work as intended and they do nothing to preserve the already-fragmented habitats in Ontario. In conclusion, I strongly oppose the proposal and urge our government to reconsider. This proposal is in no way based on science or common sense, and will be a stain on the province's history if passed.