I’m writing this to express…

I’m writing this to express my lack of support for Bill 5 introduced by Doug Ford. There are several reasons I fundamentally disagree with the proposal. The first of all, the Endangered Species Act (2007) has been implemented for eighteen years and in that time has successfully operated to protect species at risk. It does so by offering legal protection to wildlife species and their biological diversity. By safeguarding Canadian indigenous species and subspecies from extinction and extirpation, the ESA has successfully mitigated disasters for our precious environment.

Secondly, the environment deserves to be protected with the same respect. Housing, transit and ‘critical infrastructure’ should not hold precedence over wildlife. Moreover, no one should hold the political power to overwrite the rules for economic gain. Provincial and municipal laws exist based on the interest of our citizens, and in fair democratic processes have voted them into place. The “painstaking” time it takes to receive approval for such infrastructure developments, should be subjected to rigorous research for good reason.

Finally, The Whooping Crane, Vancouver Island Marmot, Blanding’s Turtle, Burrowing Owl and Greater Sage Grouse are specific examples of the ESA working for our Canadian wildlife. By scraping what the Endangered Species Act protects, a disservice would be done to our entire population. Not only to Canadian people but to the wildlife we so proudly protect. It is a part of our national identity. There is still a lot of work to be done, for example further protecting our Monarch butterflies.

Please take this submission as a full disagreement with the plans set foreward in this matter.