The facts and science are…

The facts and science are clear: a healthy environment and strong biodiversity support our economy. We will not have an economy to grow without a strong and protected environment.

Biodiversity is the variety of life on our planet and is what gives us a healthy environment. Estimates suggest there are around 8.7 million distinct species of plants and animals coexisting globally, underscoring the immense importance of maintaining this diversity for ecological stability. This richness of life contributes to the planet's health but also plays a crucial role in supporting human economies and well-being.

- Biodiversity is the foundation for all our well-being and sustains all life on this planet. It is the only reason for human survival. It provides ecosystem services that directly support health and the economy. Endangered species play a critical role in biodiversity.
- Protecting endangered species or species at risk and overall biodiversity is the only way to ensure a healthy environment and a strong economy.
- Biodiversity and species at risk are pollinators: More than 75% of global food crops rely on pollinators, contributing US$ 235–577 billion annually to global agricultural output.
- Biodiversity and species at risk are medicine: Over 50% of modern medicines are derived from natural sources/ecosystem services, including fungi, antibiotics and plant compounds, such as painkillers.
- Biodiversity and species at risk are forests: Forests store 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, absorbing approximately 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, helping mitigate climate change.
- Biodiversity and species at risk are water: Wetlands provide 75% of global freshwater resources and play a key role in water purification. However, 35% of wetlands have been lost since 1970.
- Further loss of biodiversity will directly harm Ontarians' well-being and pocketbook.
- Loss of healthy biodiversity will lead to increased health risks from pollution and contaminated water. It will also cost taxpayers more money, as we will be funding more cleanup costs, restoration projects, etc.
- Losing biodiversity will costs Ontarians jobs. Forest and agriculture economies will be damaged, losing farming and forest-related jobs.
- By overhauling the ESA and introducing a watered-down version, Ontario will not meet its goals in the Ontario Biodiversity Strategy, the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework or any other biodiversity-related agreements or goals.
- The Ministry of Natural Resources website states, “Protecting Ontario’s biodiversity while promoting economic opportunities in the resource sector and supporting outdoor recreation opportunities.’’ The changes to the ESA fly in the face of this Ministry and any hard-working staff working towards protecting Ontario’s biodiversity. Any current biodiversity efforts by the province, i.e. funding to control invasive species to protect the economy and environment, will be negated by the overhauling of the ESA. The damage from overhauling the ESA will completely undermine and discredit the Provincial Government.
- If we lose our environment and biodiversity, no resources will be left to extract and sell. We will be done as a province within what is likely ~50 years and will have nothing more to offer the world.

Recommendations
- Reconsider the most significant changes to the Act including:
o The removal of the mandatory listing of species at risk for the minister to list species identified by an independent committee of experts (the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk Ontario or COSSARO).
o Narrowing the definition of habitat so that the definition excludes a species’ habitat for feeding or migration. This will lead to the fragmentation of critical habitat for species at risk, thereby accelerating their disappearance.
o Removing the requirement for the government to develop a recovery strategy, management plans, response statements or a species’ review of progress. By no longer tracking species at risk and removing the requirement for recovery strategies, the Ontario government is effectively removing the onus to ensure conservation programs and initiatives result in species’ recovery.
o Removing the prohibition on the harassment of species, thereby removing the prohibition on disturbing a species in a way that could disrupt a species’ behaviour or life processes.
o Introducing a new approach that relies entirely on a voluntary registry, which will be used at the discretion of industry, as there does not appear to be provisions authorizing mandatory criteria for registration, nor mitigation measures to minimize the harm caused to the species at risk.

Alternative Options:
Maintain the Endangered Species Act (do not rescind) but instead:
- Hire more staff to review more permits more quickly and effectively
- Hire more planners to work with developers to plan more effectively for housing and development in Ontario
- Consult with Indigenous peoples on the changes to the ESA before any are implemented
- Use a holistic approach to managing and planning for development – meaning bring all of the parties together to one table and plan effectively!
- Use AI to track species at risk and determine where development will be least harmful
- Follow case studies and successful examples i.e. the Niagara Escarpment – this area is protected but also being developed, and innovative approaches to its development are coming from successful partnerships between developers, non-profits and First Nations