I've read through the…

I've read through the proposal details and a few things stand out as HUGELY concerning:

- Currently, classifying species at risk is done through COSSARO, which is an impartial committee of experts that uses evidence-based science to determine species' status. This new Act will allow the government to REMOVE protected species from the list AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION.

- Currently, anyone wishing to do work in species-at-risk habitats needs to register for an authorization permit, and their application is approved depending on its merit and impact to species at risk. The authorization permit outlines what kind of activities they are allowed and not allowed to do so that disturbance to wildlife habitat is minimized. This new Act would allow developers to register and immediately begin construction, WITHOUT NEEDING TO WAIT FOR THE MINISTERY TO APPROVE THEIR PERMIT. This will cause immeasurable damage to sensitive habitats and at-risk species.

- Remove the concept of "harass" from species protections and unscientifically narrow the definition "habitat" to further erode species and habitat protections.

- Remove the Species at Risk Program Advisory Committee, and the existing requirements for the government to develop recovery products for all at-risk species (such as this one that I wrote: https://www.ontario.ca/document/2023-review-progress-towards-protection… )

So what's the implication here? This new legislation will:

- Erode science-based and impartial decision-making

- Reduce or remove existing protections and recovery requirements

- Damage reconciliation efforts and undermine Indigenous ecological knowledge systems and approaches

- Cause long-term economic impacts from environmental degradation in an already-strained system