One of our primary roles as…

One of our primary roles as residents of Ontario is to be stewards of the beautiful land we reside on; to make sure that we can pass on a healthy and diverse set of ecosystems to be enjoyed by the next generation. These proposed changes do little to further this idea, instead stripping away the protections that our already exploited species receive, with seemingly either no understanding or care for the context these protections were crafted in.

The redefinition of "habitat" is particularly egregious, acting as though a species survival needs somehow do not extend beyond the immediate proximity of their "den" or "nest". This change appears to miss the basic fact that habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation are the leading pressures the majority of our species at risk face (per the Gov. of Canada, please see the supporting link). Work, particularly that of development, often also introduces further pressures such as contamination and invasive species.

Similarly, the rescinding of "harassment" from the protections at risk species are afforded is unconscionable. The idea that harassment, often to the point that basic activities like feeding and sleeping are disrupted, is somehow not an act that should be barred from occurring is absurd. These basic activities are primary contributors to the overall health of a species, and thus, if they are interrupted frequently enough, will cause impacted individuals to be more susceptible to illness and disease, and less likely to find a mate and successfully breed. Even relatively brief periods of harassment can be path altering for the long-term success of a species at risk if they interrupt a critical activity like the actual act of mating. I ask: could you imagine if people were not afforded protections from harassment?

I have no interest in raising a family in a province that won't respect its natural environment, particularly its most exploited members. These species at risk have no voice of their own, so it falls on all of us to stand up for what is right. Please reconsider these proposed changes.