It is good to review the ESA…

It is good to review the ESA to ensure that it continues to do what is was initially set out to do, i.e. strengthen the protection of each and every species under its jurisdiction, from the Grizzled Moss to the Algonquin Wolf.

Every species count in making Ontario’s biodiversity vibrant and efficient. So does every ecosystem, including the Wolf Lake red-pine stand in Northeastern Ontario. Interactions in the natural world are so complex and intricate that, when species disappear , it will consequently affect the health and resiliency of the whole ecosystems in which they live. And, consequently, ours, as we depend on nature to live. “Living systems keep the air breathable and water drinkable, and provide nutritious food. To continue to perform these vital services they need to retain their complexity, diversity and resilience.” (World Wildlife Fund. Living Planet Report 2016:Risk and resilience in a new era, p. 12.)

Another reason the ESA should be revisited is to correct the 2013 regulatory changes leading to exemptions to the Act – exemptions that allow activities known to impact species at risk and/or their habitats. These exemptions weaken the intent of the ESA; therefore every precaution should be taken before granting them. Lives, even though they may not be human lives, depend on judicious decisions. And these decisions must be made in light of current scientific data as well as, when applicable, on Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

The development of timely strategies for the protection and recovery of species at risk also needs to be re-evaluated. When a species is threatened, time is of essence in helping it to recover and to continue to play its role in the ecosystem – whatever its role may be. And the management plans need to take into account the scientific data relating to the specific species they are designed for.

Finally, the ESA’s role is to speak for those wild lives that do not have a say in decision-making in Ontario but, yet, are affected by it. Please revise the Act in a way that will give a strong voice to the voiceless. They matter, too.