As an Ontarian, I value the…

As an Ontarian, I value the natural areas that comprise this province's landscape and the plants and animals that inhabit them. This province would not be a desirable place to live, work, or raise a family if the fundamental land and species that reside here were discarded for profit. No amount of benefit from an "unleashed economy" would make up for what would be lost without the protections of the Endangered Species Act. This province would not be what it once was, would not be the same place that the people here have called home, raised families, started businesses, and planned futures in. The complex political and economic state of our province in the wake of international change will not be remedied by the desecration of our own land. Our land, our species, and our nature are what make Ontario valuable. The changes to the Endangered Species Act and the proposed Species Conservation Act can not under any circumstances be passed.

There lie fundamental issues with the proposed new Species Conservation Act, which are ignorant of the known biology of species. The protection of a "dwelling place" or nest and immediate surrounding, excludes the understanding that a habitat cannot be reduced to one part, it must be a self-sustaining ecosystem to survive. A nesting area and its immediate surroundings cannot sustain life if all that encompasses it is discarded. An understanding of the effects of ecosystem fragmentation, which has been a topic highly researched and published on (see: Saunders et al. 1991 in "Biological Consequences of Ecosystem Fragmentation: A Review") is necessary when proposing monumental changes to conservation acts that are supported by science. These proposed changes are also ignorant of the life history of migrating animals and animals that move between habitats to forage, breed, and complete other fundamental needs. Isolating one area that has evidence of use, without regard for seasonally driven movements, is incredibly destructive and will have dire consequences on the populations of several species. As well, Federal laws do not protect habitat for migratory animals on private or provincial crown land, as the government’s rationale for the change incorrectly suggests. Legal protections from threatened and endangered species must continue to exist for habitat on provincial crown land, as the federal Species at Risk habitat protections apply to federal crown land.

The habitat definition and protections of the Endangered Specied Act must be retained. Any delays or lack of clarity with the act should be dealt with through process improvements. Incentives for habitat protection on private land must include funding for conservation easements and purchase of land by land trusts, and the annual budget of the new Species Conservation Program should be sufficient to make this meaningful.

The requirement to develop recovery strategies must remain in effect, and the proposed new Species Conservation Act does not include any meaningful alternative. Without recovery plans, priorities will not be identifiable, and businesses and the public will not have guidance on land that needs protection and what actions to take. The removal of recovery strategies reflects poorly on our provincial government, and supports an image that the government of Ontario is incapable of creating plans that have long-lasting effects and work toward a prosperous and stable province.

The irreparable damage would undo promises made to Indigenous peoples, who are valued and equal members of our community. Striving to further incorporate Indigenous leadership, knowledge, and stewardship into our practices is what will make Ontario stronger, united, and successful. The absence of their voices from this legislature is evident, further cementing that this proposal is damaging, ignorant, and unsustainable.

This proposal does not reflect the values and interests of Ontarians, and its implementation would have dire and irreversible consequences on our land, ecosystems, communities, and economy. Our government was elected to represent the best interests of the people, which the contents of this proposal not only completely disregard but set out to actively destroy.

As an Ontarian I value our ecosystems. I value our at risk and endangered species. I value the protections provided by the Endangered Species Act. I value Ontario.

Thank you for your time.