Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Ontario’s Invasive Species Strategy. Regrettably, the province is not taking enough action on this very important file, and invasive species continue to become established and spread in this province, largely uncontrolled. The 2012 Strategy was never significantly advanced, and species like marbled crayfish and hemlock wooly adelgid have become established, while others like dog-strangling vine and phragmites continue to spread. The Strategy needs an implementation plan, with significant long-term funding, to achieve success. A Strategy without funding is meaningless.

The most significant opportunity to improve invasive species prevention in Ontario is regulation of the horticulture industry, where at least 52% of Canada’s invasive plants being introduced via ornamental gardens. Urgent action is required to address the continued sale of invasive plants such as Norway maple and goutweed, among many others. When climate change is layered on this issue, the horticulture industry becomes even more of a threat, with a recent study estimating that it will drive the spread of 80% of invasive plant species. While municipalities and conservation authorities are spending millions of dollars annually controlling invasive plants, anyone can purchase an invasive plant at a garden centre and plant it anywhere. Despite their claims, the horticulture industry will not suffer from the regulation of invasive plants, people will simply purchase a different plant. Some US states have taken a leadership role in regulating the horticulture industry, and Ontario would be wise to follow their lead.

Similarly, public awareness and education needs to be prioritized. Most people, even gardeners, are completely unaware that they may be planting and enabling the spread of invasive plants. Social media is contributing to the problem because platforms like Facebook allow for the easy sell and trade of invasive plants, including regulated ones. Targeted education campaigns, along with clear regulations, will help improve the public’s understanding of invasive species, and help to protect small backyards, and larger natural systems.

Another excellent opportunity to improve invasive species management is by restoring provincial funding to the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC). This non-profit organization produces the highest standard of technical documents and best management practices in Canada, and perhaps North America. These free resources are an incredible value to professional land managers, as well as the general public who wish to undertake management in their own gardens and yards. OIPC’s work is not duplicated by the Invasive Species Centre, but rather compliments it. Ongoing efforts are needed to continue with the development and updates of technical bulletins and BMPs, especially in the face of climate change where we are guaranteed to see an exacerbation of invasive plant introduction, establishment and spread. The province’s own review of the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan: Review of Progress (2012-2022) celebrates the work of OIPC, yet provincial funding was eliminated in 2019.

Timelines on risk assessments and the implementation of regulations need improvement. A risk assessment should take months (at most) rather than almost four years for species to be regulated (a university degree could be acquired quicker). This lengthy delay results in increased spread, continued ecosystem degradation and ultimately increased costs to eradicate or bring the species under control.
The list of existing invaders and likely future invaders is long, but there is no compiled list that is current or publicly available. Create a list of all known invasive species in Ontario and make it widely available. Create watch lists of emerging species not yet present in Ontario and sleeper species already present that are likely to become invasive with climate change and make them widely available. This will help increase public awareness and will help organizations undertaking direct public engagement and on-the-ground control to be better informed and better prepared for early detection and rapid response. Additionally, implement a systemic surveillance program, including environmental DNA, for high-risk species that are not found in Ontario, or have a very limited distribution. The reliance of the province on incidental observations via EDDMapS does not provide sufficient monitoring to protect Ontario’s ecosystems. Most Ontarians do not know how or where to report invasive species. The best, and most cost-effective way to address invasive species is to prevent their establishment, therefore monitoring and reporting are essential tools.

Last, but certainly not least, significant funding investments are urgently needed to improve coordinated control efforts, research control techniques, undertake surveillance and monitoring and train on-the-ground experts, including enforcement officers. Long-term, multi-year funding is required to undertake proper invasive species management, particularly invasive plants. There is a risk of exacerbating invasive plant spread and herbicide resistance without multiple years of consistent, effective control. Land managers cannot do this without more support. Consistent multi-year funding is required to enable planning, coordination with neighbouring property owners/land managers and on-the-ground control efforts to achieve success. Invasive species do not respect property boundaries, and to enable effective control, a coordinating agency responsible for connecting land managers, identifying and helping to secure funding, and ensuring management plans are followed and our natural areas are protected. The lack of oversight and coordination exacerbates the invasive species burden, often resulting in inaction.

We are experiencing a global biodiversity crisis, Ontario included. Invasive species play a significant role in biodiversity loss and Ontario must act now to protect what is left, and actively restore our ecosystems so that they retain function, value, and can benefit Ontarians for generations to come.