The protection of species at…

The protection of species at risk is important to me. the change in species listing from threatened to endangered, or special concern to threatened, indicates that for many SAR, even the current habitat protection under the Act is not working, in many cases because of habitat loss. I do not want to see the Act weakened further so that development rights cause further threats to SAR.

Any landscape approach must recognise that the GTA supports some of the highest biodiversity in the province - the diversity of fauna and flora becomes greater as you go further south. Provincial parks and national parks are rare in this part of the province so protection of biodiversity is accomplished in large part through policies and legislation that protect specific habitat. The ESA plays one of the most important roles in protecting habitat for SAR, as habitat for SAR also provides habitat for other species. Protection of habitat for species in the GTA is a critical part of conserving biodiversity in this province.

The listing of SAR at the time when the evaluation is completed by COSSARO increases certainty that the species will be protected. I would not want to see the delays between evaluation and listing that are typical of the federal listing process, and I would be afraid that this would result from increased time allowed following the evaluation.