I’m all for streamlining…

I’m all for streamlining processes and accelerating development – we need to adapt and move forward. But not at the expense of our natural habitats. The proposed changes to Ontario’s endangered species legislation (ERO 025-0380) may speed things up, but they also risk undermining critical protections for species and ecosystems that are already under threat.

We need a balanced approach that puts the earth first. Rather than weakening habitat definitions and removing recovery plans, why not invest in solutions that protect nature and drive progress?

Here’s some suggestions:
• Implement a Tiered Review System: Fast-track low-impact projects while requiring comprehensive assessments for sensitive habitats.
• Adopt a Mitigation Hierarchy: Prioritize Avoid, Minimize, Restore, Offset strategies to safeguard critical ecosystems.
• Create a Conservation Credit System: Fund habitat restoration by allowing developers to purchase credits for conservation projects.
• Require Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs): Identify high-risk areas early to guide development away from vulnerable ecosystems.
• Integrate Indigenous Knowledge: Partner with Indigenous communities to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge in conservation planning.
• Incentivize Green Infrastructure: Offer tax breaks for projects that include green roofs, wildlife corridors, or habitat-friendly designs.
• Maintain Recovery Strategies but Keep Them Adaptive: Allow plans to evolve based on emerging data, ensuring they remain effective over time.
• Establish a Conservation Innovation Fund: Redirect funding to support tech-driven, nature-positive solutions like AI monitoring and drone-based habitat restoration.

Future generations deserve more than a landscape stripped of biodiversity. Let’s rethink these changes and prioritize protecting our natural world – because once it’s gone, we can’t get it