The protection of species at…

The protection of species at risk is very important to Ontario. Southern Ontario has the highest biodiversity in Canada and the new Act needs to be able to protect species at risk effectively. The pressure that developers bring to bear on consultants to permit development on as much land as possible is truly enormous. This act must be rigorous, enforceable and effective. Registrations need to be rigorously audited. Here are some principles that must be followed:

1. the protection of habitat must include habitat for breeding, rearing young, overwintering, foraging, but must also include the corridors between those habitats. Sedentary species like Jefferson Salamander need diverse habitats, and cannot survive if the habitats are separated by barriers.
2. The production of recovery strategies should not be abandoned. We need to have recovery strategies, or a process similar to that, that provide a comprehensive review of the species' habitat and provide recommendations for regulations, otherwise we are just taking a stab in the dark.
3. We need oversight! There are economic pressures on consultants that will make it almost impossible to provide strong recommendations for species protection if they have to compete with consultants that will provide weak recommendations that will please their clients.
4. There should be some species for which a registration will not suffice. Jefferson Salamander needs a complex mix of habitats and it is too easy to split up the habitats if oversight is not provided. Loggerhead Shrike needs extensive and complex habitats, and there should be expert consultation with MECP for species like these.
5. The expertise in MECP and formerly, MNR is very extensive and cannot be replaced. The resources provided by MECP and MNR are really valuable to me. I think MECP should still be involved in habitat protection for species with complex needs,