Rod Phillips Minister of the…

Rod Phillips Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks said "As part of the commitments contained within our made-in-Ontario environment plan, we are consulting to improve the effectiveness of our environmental protections to ensure a balanced approach between a healthy environment and a healthy economy." Also within the proposal it says "looking for ways to streamline approvals and provide clarity to support economic development." I find it hard to believe that this government-the one who is open for business and clearly has intentions to weaken environmental protections will take a balanced approach. In fact, when does the environment ever win or even has the same regard as economic growth? It doesn't. Which is why we are in the mess we are in with climate change and the fact we are in the 6th mass extinction. This extinction event is much faster than background rate and is different in the fact that is has been caused by us-humans- and not natural events. Biodiversity loss is just as important as climate change. A U.N. Report states we have 2 years to turn around biodiversity loss or we could face our OWN EXTINCTION. I don't understand why governments don't seem to get it and fail to take drastic steps. Climate change will accelerate biodiversity loss as some species will not be able to migrate or adapt quick enough. We depend on so many species for our food, fuel and fiber. So many species are in trouble-bees, butterflies, bats and birds. I spend a lot of time in nature and I can see the changes here in Ontario. I use to see so much wildlife and now there are numerous times I go into a forest and see and hear nothing. Silent Spring does not seem so far away it seems. We need to be strengthening our protection of species, not making things easier for developers. I have heard that developers dictate to farmers what crops they can grow so that they do not get threatened or endangered animals on the properties they wish to develop. It is wrong to weaken this regulation. Instead use the tools to protect species. It is wrong that the Minister can make the ultimate decision. Decisions should be based on science not friendship or economics.