I am opposed to the proposed…

I am opposed to the proposed legislation.

I'm also opposed to the way in which the proposal is presented on the ERO. It is not presented in a neutral fashion, but instead in a cheerleading fashion, making arguments and claims in support of the proposal rather than simply presenting the facts about it and allowing commentators to make their own decisions. This is grossly undemocratic and leaves me wondering if we are dealing with Donald Ford or Doug Trump. As in other matters in recent weeks, allegedly opposing the dictatorial actions of the US president, is used as an excuse to copy them, to act in the same Trumpian dictatorial fashion.

This begins is the summary statement that asserts without evidence that "the current approach to the protection and conservation of species at risk is complicated, takes too long to complete, and causes unnecessary delays and costs for housing, transit, and critical infrastructure." In short, in the view of the Conservative government, the current legislation gets in the way of what it and its friends want to do. This, in fact, is the purpose of Endangered Species legislation which is specifically established to prevent damage that can be avoided, and to ensure that Endangered Species are actually protected. The proposed changes greatly weaken that purpose and may actually eliminate them entirely.

The purpose of the proposal is stated as "to help speed up project timelines and provide greater certainty for proponents". That is the OPPOSITE of the purpose of the legislation that it seeks to replace. Protecting endangered species is not about serving "proponents". It is about serving the public and the preservation of Endangered Species. Thus the proposal openly turns the current legislation on its head.

The proposal admits that "instead of waiting for the ministry to approve permits, most proponents will be able to begin an activity immediately after registering." That is also a bald-faced admission that the proposal's intent is to get rid of endangered species protection in any situation that is inconvenient to the corporate interests. It is also to eliminate the permitting process where independent experts examine what corporations are proposing and assess its impacts.

The proposal says COSSARO will continue in "assessing and classifying species in Ontario"; that this "will not change." And immediately then says this is a lie: "The government would also have discretion to remove protected species from the list." So Ford and his Conservatives get to trump COSSARO whenever and wherever they please. Why bother having a COSSARO in these circumstances?

It goes on in the same vein, claiming that the current scientific "definition of “habitat” creates uncertainty, includes broad areas beyond core species protections, and results in confusion." In short, to hell with the science that the government and its friends don't like.

The proposal also openly seeks to gut federal legislative protections. The new rules "would not apply to these SARA protected aquatic species and migratory birds, allowing for projects to move forward in a more efficient and cost-effective way." Again, the admitted purpose is to serve the corporate proponents, not the public or the species at risk. How soon does Ontario intend to join the separatists in Alberta in carving up the country and seeking to become pieces of a US fifty-first state?

The proposal announces the end of the Species Conservation Program, and vaguely without details says something will replace this, but or course we are not told what. However the body responsible for implementing this - "the Species Conservation Action Agency (SCAA)" will be eliminated.

I note that there was no mention of this proposal in the Conservative platform in the election held just two months ago. It is another example of government by dictatorship that rips up the Greenbelt, forces boundary expansions on municipalities, tears out bike lanes, sells off long-time public assets such as Ontario Place, etc. I don't see why I or anyone else should even spend the time commenting when it's clear that the RULERS will do what they please. Damn the dictatorship!