I am writing in strong…

I am writing in strong opposition to the proposed changes of the Endangered Species Act which protects Ontario’s most vulnerable wildlife and our vanishing biodiversity. The current process to obtain a development permit is being called slow and complex. Perhaps it was designed that way for a reason. This new Bill 5 “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act” and its sweeping changes has very little to do with furthering the economic wellness of Ontario and a lot to do with helping the premier’s development friends fast track their projects. The current government has proven that they care very little for the environment or Ontario’s green spaces - which is ironic given that these are part of what make Ontario great. Allowing developers to destroy habitats and development proposals to go unchecked with immediate approval and a ‘build first, check things out later’ approach will be catastrophic. The damage to local ecosystems in this case will already be done. The proposal, reducing an animal’s critical habitat to a single dwelling and the immediate surrounding area, is ridiculous. Where is the accountability when allowing government discretion about what species deserve protection⁠? We are stewards of this planet and have to safeguard it for generations to come. We must not make short-term decisions with irrevocable long term effects.