If Endangered Species Act…

If Endangered Species Act permits are indeed "slow and complex", then the government should instead engage ministry staff and stakeholders and undertake a thorough program review to identify areas for improvement. For example, issues with permitting and approvals in government almost always stem from a shortage of staff, resources and the requirement for authorizations to recieve multiple levels of review and approval. The goal should be to improve permitting, not completely abdandon it. Species at risk and their habits must be protected, and proper oversight including review and approvals are necessary.

Given this government's track record with the environment and species at risk, the "problems" related to permitting under the Endangered Species Act are almost certainly by design. Set it up to fail, wait for the right "crisis" to come along and use that as an excuse to further weaken or remove oversight and protections.

The significant scoping down of habitat protections, complete removal of provincial protections and responsibilty for many species at risk (under the guise of "duplication") is reprehensible. The government is also abdicating their responsibilities for recovery of species at risk.

This government and those they are beholden to appear to harbour nothing but comtempt for any level of regulatory review and oversight particuarly as it relates to the natural environment.

Ontario does not need to choose between the environment and the economy. Species at risk and the environment are not a hindrance to development. Bill 5 is a gift to PC donors, developers and industry and is an outright attack on expertise, science, conservation and responsible land use planning.

The Ontario legislature must reject Bill 5.