I am not in favour of the…

I am not in favour of the proposed changed to the Endangered Species Act. The new proposal appears to favour faster project development without ensuring that endangered species will survive in Ontario. There are many problems in the new legislation and the following lists 3 that I am most concerned about:

Habitat: the definition of habitat needs to include areas needed for feeding and migration, not just where the species lives or makes a den. If the larger area needed for feeding and migration is not protected, decline is much more likely.

Recovery plans: we need to have endangered species monitored and have a recovery plan developed. The new legislation does not enforce this.

Harassment: The new legislation removes the prohibition on harassment. Development in areas that will disturb endangered species will lead to a rapid decline.

Whatever benefits we get from more rapid development of new projects will not compensate us for the irretrievable damage caused by the loss of more species.