Good afternoon, I am greatly…

Good afternoon,

I am greatly concerned about the regressive changes being proposed to Ontario's Endangered Species Act. My main concerns are:
- Allowing developers to pay a fee to avoid compliance with the laws (payed into the Species at Risk Conservation Trust)
- Giving the Environment Minister discretionary ability to delay species recovery (it seems that he could override scientific findings)
- The ability to de-list threatened Ontario species that are doing well outside of the province
Newly listed endangered or threatened species wouldn't go on the list for a year (the wait is currently 3 months)

At a time when biodiversity is threatened worldwide, the government of Ontario should be pursuing restoration and incentivizing developers to consider the impacts of their work on the area's species and biodiversity.

Thank you for your consideration,
an Ottawa resident