I am commenting as a long…

I am commenting as a long time resident of Ontario and as someone who was born and raised in Ontario.

I would like to see the repeal of the SCA and Bill 5. Weakening the protection of species at risk and their habitats, and preventing the public from being able to have a say, is not necessary to promote economic growth. The proposals also violate the EBR, because they do not contain the text of the proposed materials, which directly hinders our ability to review, understand and provide informed comments. These proposals should be withdrawn in full.

1) The text of the proposed materials must be made available for review. The 45-day comment periods for the proposals must be restarted once sufficient information (i.e. the text of the proposed regulations, amendments and guidelines) is publicly accessible and available online, to enable the public to meaningfully engage, thoroughly review, and provide informed comments (in compliance with the EBR). The proposals in their current state do not contain sufficient information to understand their far-reaching and significant implications.

2) The public’s right to participate in environmentally significant decisions must be upheld. Decisions made under the SCA, specifically regarding permits and orders, must be subject to Part II of the EBR (Public Participation in Government Decision-Making), so that the public continues to have the right to have a say before the government makes environmentally significant decisions.

3) The proposed regulations, amendments and guidelines must increase protection of species at risk and their habitats.

4) The proposed regulations, amendments and guidelines must uphold Indigenous rights. The proposed materials, and the SCA more broadly, threatens the health and survival of culturally important species, directly impacting Indigenous people’s inherent rights and constitutionally protected Treaty rights to hunt, fish and trap.

5) The definition of ‘habitat’ must be strengthened if Ontario is to protect species and their habitats from adverse impacts.