Proposed repealing of the…

Proposed repealing of the Endangered Species Act and replacing with a Species Conservation Act would be devastating for species at risk in Ontario. Schedule 10 and the rest of Bill 5 should be scrapped.

The original purpose of the Act which is protect species at risk and promote stewardship for species at risk recovery has been perverted to make these goals subservient to “social and economic considerations including the need for sustainable economic growth in Ontario”. Pushing aside species protection does not promote sustainable economic growth.

Narrowing habitat definition to exclude feeding or migration areas, removing prohibition of species harassment, removal of mandatory listing of at risk species identified by COSSARO, replacing permits with voluntary registries, eliminating recovery strategies for species at risk are all measures that would be disastrous for species at risk and the biodiversity they support.