This change in Species-at…

This change in Species-at-Risk (SAR) legislation is extremely damaging. It will allow developers to rush through environmental assessments and destroy SAR habitat in the blink of an eye, without needing the proper permits or approvals. Especially damaging is the change in habitat definition. Something that is so complex and must be defined by science for proper decision making should not be reduced as such.

Species use a variety of habitat features to carry out their lifecycle and this includes much more than just root space or sheltered dwellings used for breeding, rearing, staging, wintering, or hibernating. Yes, these are some of the most critical habitat areas but the lives of animals are more complex than just these few things. Wildlife and plants live as a part of complex ecosystems and reducing the definition of habitats is essentially a death sentence.

Overall, these changes will cause direct harm to Species-at-Risk in Ontario. This is not acceptable.