I'm deeply concerned about…

I'm deeply concerned about these proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which could come into effect if the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act is passed. It appears that these changes are motivated by development and completely undermine the original intent of the ESA, which is to act as an emergency response to provide protections to species that are threatened by or face extinction. On a national level, Canada has committed to international obligations to mitigate biodiversity loss under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the recent Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework. Provincial participation in upholding these commitments under the CBD is crucial since the majority of crown land falls under this jurisdiction. However, the proposed flexibility in species listing and omission of recovery planning or monitoring on a species' status is highly concerning regarding the effectiveness of species protection mechanisms. We need a balance between the economy and safeguarding our environment, since we can't have one without the other. I urge that the proposed changes be assessed through a critical lens that mitigates the impacts on future species protection.