We all occupy an…

We all occupy an interdependent world. To delist any endangered species is to create imbalance.

The proposal states that government will have discretion on what species are protected and would also have discretion to remove protected species from the list. Will species be removed because they have fully recovered and exist in multiple locations, or because the province feels they interfere with development? This is not made clear. Will advisory committees be qualified conservationists and botanists? How will their qualifications be defined? Will they be impartial or appointed by the province?

The plan to focus on the "core protections" essential to the conservation of species is inadequate. Your redefinition of habitat is not clear enough. How will provisions for wildlife corridors be established, not just for a specific species, but other species that might impact its health and survival?

The statement that establish a framework for rules that will be based on activities that are "most likely" to have a negative impact on species is vague and easily manipulated.

A new Species Conservation Program to support "voluntary initiatives" like habitat restoration that protect and conserve species should only be in addition to existing provincial and federal laws and bylaws protecting species, would not provide an enforceable framework, and does not define what kind of support it would provide.

In short, this proposal is full of loopholes and does not appear to provide any strengthened protection for the species at risk, which is unacceptable.