This government has already…

This government has already tried a number of strategies to open up the Greenbelt to business; Ontarians have responded quickly and definitively that doing so would have disastrous consequences for the Province, and for the Ford Government. To his credit, the Premier has quickly backed away from those strategies, saying the he has heard "loud and clear" citizen concerns and wishes.

Unfortunately, we have learned that when one strategy is discarded, another quickly follows to take its place, with the same objective: find a way to open up the province "for business" at the cost of the environment and other non-business values. This latest initiative to review and update the endangered species list, despite the fine language claiming the environmental high ground, seems little more than a ruse to slip in ways and means for this government's business pals to have their way with the province's resources. Am I a cynic in thinking that if this government were to declare that an endangered species is not really endangered, or that past steps taken to protect it and its habitat are not necessary, that the aggregate industry, for example, would be delighted that this government had finally found a way to give it a "green light" to avail itself of resources previously off-limits, thanks to the old endangered species designations?

Am I in favour of real scientific assessment and re-evaluation of current endangered species lists and best practices to secure their future? Of course I am! So would be my grandchildren, for whom we must act. But the last tenant of the proposal, to "...streamline approvals and provide clarity to support economic development" is most likely to be the tail that is wagging this dog. I can tell you that the Public is very much aware of how this government works and what its agenda is. Should it dare to declassify endangered species in order to remove roadblocks for industry, this will be a one-term government.