The endangered species act…

The endangered species act is fine as it is; it does not need to be altered or repealed as proposed in the bill. Species conservation needs to remain mandatory and not be changed to voluntary. The change to a registration first framework would strip protections from conservation areas allowing developers to start work without approval destroying conservation land before they can be stopped.

The government should not have the power to remove endangered species from the protected species list. The new bill proposes to remove the laws against the harassment of protected species. Under the endangered species act this is defined as any disruption that negatively impacts a species ability to carry out essential life processes. The proposed bill would remove any habitats that aren’t currently occupied. This limits the available homes for the next generation of the species and leaves habitats vulnerable if they are mistakenly deemed not occupied.

There is no confusion, the proposed bills would have developers measuring distance from habitats to destroy nearby foliage and food sources. Waiting for the species to leave so they can deem it uninhabited. This proposed bill would allow people to obtain permits and register to perform activities that include…
activities that are likely to kill, harm, capture, or take a member of a species listed on the Protected Species in Ontario List
possessing, transporting, collecting, buying, selling, leasing, or trading a member of a species listed on the Protected Species in Ontario List
damage to or destruction of the habitat of a species listed on the Protected Species in Ontario List.
Source: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0380#proposal-details

The bill proposes to remove protection for species at risk including aquatic creatures and migratory birds. The proposed bill alleges that the strict policies reflected by both the federal and provincial governments prevent maximum possible benefit to the protected species. How removing protections for these species would benefit them is beyond me. But the bill states how it would be beneficial for developers by making building on conserved land efficient and cost effective.

The proposed bill would remove requirements to develop recovery plans for affected habitats. Supposedly the new species conservation act would continue to promote voluntary and community based habitat restoration efforts. Allowing people to volunteer their time to fix what the new proposal would see destroyed.

The species conservation action agency collects payments made by developers who have chosen to pay a charge instead of completing the on the ground beneficial actions for endangered species. These charges have all gone towards a fund that will allow the species conservation action agency to support conservation efforts. The proposed bill would end the species conservation action agency before they can start using the fund to protect endangered species. It would also allow the ministry to transfer the funds to themselves to be used on conservation activities. The definition of conservation activities is to be widened.

This bill would remove the public’s ability to form an advisory committee and end the current species at risk program advisory committee.
The bill states that they are committed to holding the regulated community accountable but the bill would set out clear rules and expectations so developers can get as close as possible. New flexible enforcement and investigation powers would allow the ministry to enforce compliance or ignore it according to their risk based proportional assessment model.
The registration first model is already used in 95% of endangered species act activities. This includes activities like early exploration mining and species surveys. Not breaking ground on new housing developments. Trekking through conservation land to mark which trees they are going to cut down and which habitats they want to destroy to build expensive houses. Expensive houses that are not affordable. On top of ending many people’s jobs by getting rid of the species conservation action agency and the species at risk program advisory committee.
The registration first system would eliminate the waiting time for the ministry to investigate and approve permits. Allowing developers to start on the project as soon as they fill out the online registration. Only if they are following regulations. The same regulations that are being stripped by this proposed bill.
In conclusion, this bill would allow developers to build without approval and before the ministry can tell them no. It would allow the government to disband groups that protect endangered species and remove any species they want from the protected species list. The bill would allow developers to build directly next to and on conservation areas, allowing them to disrupt the essential actions of life for any endangered species. Remove protection for aquatic creatures and migratory birds completely. All to make it efficient and cost effective for Fords developer friends to build expensive houses on protected land. All done quietly behind Ontario’s back.

I oppose this bill. To maintain our wildlife habitats, keep our green belt, stop the abolishment of environmental protections and the jobs associated with them. Say no to the registration first system and stop trying to destroy protected land.