I was semi-prepared for a…

I was semi-prepared for a short-sighted, self-serving response of our current provincial government to the processes surrounding species' protections in Ontario - after all, who would expect much from an absolute disaster of a premier with no post-secondary education, no empathy, and no ability to think beyond his own short-term needs - and I remind you that your government was not voted for by the majority. Nevertheless, these proposed revisions are way beyond what I expected. Some comments below.
1) There are multiple delays embedded in this proposal that seek to extend the time within which action is required. For example, i) "extend the time from when a COSSARO report is received by the Minister to when listing is to occur from three to twelve months", and ii) "Minister discretion to extend the nine-month Government Response Statement development timeline"
Response: This document has clearly been prepared by people who are entirely ignorant of the reasons for, and potential solutions to, our biodiversity crisis. An introductory course on ecology would educate the authors so that they would realize that many of this work is time sensitive. This is just a delaying tactic.
2) "De-couple the listing process from automatic protections and provide greater Minister’s discretion on protections, while keeping the assessment as a science-based process at arm’s length. While the role of classifying species would remain with COSSARO and listing of classified species would continue to be required, the proposed changes would provide the Minister with authority to temporarily suspend species and habitat protections for up to three years for some newly-listed species."
Response: Wow. Here you are saying that a minister with absolutely zero background in biology, science, ecology, land management, or any other relevant area will have the power to override the carefully deliberated recommendations made by an appropriately educated and experienced committee. What will be in place to prevent the minister for altering species' protections (to the extent that they are effectively nonexistent) in exchange for back room (or front room) deals he will make with his cronies who much would rather make money than protect our biodiversity.
3) Creation of Regulatory Charge and Agency
Response to this entire section: This entire section once again reflects the lack of education (relevant and otherwise) of our provincial government. In simple language: money does not compensate for lost habitat or lost populations.
These proposed changes show a total disregard for the biodiversity of Ontario, and the minister and other relevant parties should be ashamed of themselves. Do you ever stop to think about how you will explain to your grandchildren your roles in biodiversity loss, climate change, and the catastrophic conditions that will follow?