Bruce County supports the…

Bruce County supports the provincial interest and objectives in streamlining approvals to get projects done – in the right way.

In this spirit we offer the following comments with respect to the Proposed Interim Changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and a Proposal for the Species Conservation Act, 2025:

Current provincial direction regarding natural heritage includes a range of considerations.
Provincial Direction with respect to species at risk requires they be addressed ‘in accordance with provincial and federal requirements.’

We can appreciate the intent of efforts to increase clarification and reduce duplication. Changing provincial requirements may result in more projects meeting provincial requirements but not necessarily require a complete change to natural heritage review.

The Natural Heritage System mapped in the proposed new County Official Plan identifies and maps a system where important habitat may be found (e.g., Significant Woodlands), but is not based on mapping listed species’ exact habitats.

In consideration of the changes, it is important to underscore the importance of a healthy and biologically diverse natural environment in the County and the benefit of its residents. If the result is unbalanced growth there may be adverse impacts to present and future generations.

Many species at risk are culturally significant to First Nations communities. If there are fewer protections afforded these species by provincial legislation, First Nations may expect more to be done to address aboriginal and treaty rights and protections for these species through individual development approvals. This could impact trust, time, and certainty for proponents.

A key opportunity for the province is to support the infrastructure that enables development focused within communities, reducing development pressure within natural heritage features / areas.

Further, Bruce County requests that the province provide more than 30 days to receive comments on important legislative changes, to allow appropriate time for Councils to receive and deliberate before submitting comments.