The proposal to repeal and…

The proposal to repeal and replace the Endangered Species Act with the new Species Conservation Act is a compromise I don’t want Ontario to make.

Following regulations does take time; but protecting wildlife is more than just red tape.

Specific concerns:
1. Proponents will be able to begin an activity immediately after registering, before a permit has been issued. It sounds like there is a lot of trust that the proponents have got it all right and are going to follow rules set out in regulations. Enforcement is only after the fact.
2. The government would have discretion to remove protected species from the list of protected species. I want to see listing power remain in the hands of an independent scientific committee.
3. Change to the definition of habitat as described. Habitat loss is probably the main threat to species conservation. The critical root zone of a plant is hardly an adequate description of the habitat needed by that plant to persist in the environment. The proposed definition is too limited.

The need for sustainable economic growth does not outweigh the need to protect ecosystems on which we all ultimately rely. Unfortunately, the housing affordability crisis is being weaponized to justify these changes. In truth, the benefits will not fall equally to most, and our shared patrimony will be the cost.