As a Canadian who has…

As a Canadian who has resided in multiple different provinces and different countries, I have seen different levels of species protection across the board. Canada has an enormous responsibility to protect our environment as a whole, and any developments should consider the impact on ecosystems as a whole - not just single small regions where there is evidence of habitat usage. Habitat fragmentation is one of the primary threats to our ecosystems in Canada today. I am very concerned that allowing developments to be started without permits, and only registration, is removing a very important step to intentional conservation of Canadian wildlife, especially species at risk.

Consider the endangered blandings turtle. Our turtle populations are already facing heavy mortality from cars, as they attempt to cross roads within their OWN habitat. Even just recently, there are 10s of turtle hatchlings that are injured or dead from being stepped on as Canadian citizens and tourists visit cherry blossom locations in high park. This species, and countless others (amphibian, birds, mammals, plants and more!) do not pick a spot and stay planted there. They migrate, travel, and forage in different regions.

I believe that the proposed changes threaten species at risk and their usage of habitat, threaten ecosystem balance, and threaten the supply of ecological services that we as Canadians benefit from DAILY. I have seen in other provinces and other countries horrible species protection laws. For example, the Eurasian Otter declined severely between the 1980s-2010 all throughout the European continent, from pollution and agricultural intensification. Populations are still struggling to recover, if not extinct or facing extinction. These countries have invested millions into species recovery. Is this the path Canada would like to take, a short term boost to the economy in exchange for long term consequences, and a loss of environment that we all directly benefit from?

We have one of the most biodiverse and beautiful countries in the world - it would be a devastating loss to allow developments to occur without proper procedural process and professional advice.