I am an Ontario resident and…

I am an Ontario resident and graduate researcher in environmental politics. I lived in Kingston for four years and I witnessed the process of development of Johnson Point. This process was a devastating failure of the Ontario Government to respond to science and community knowledge of species at risk. Despite the importance of this piece of legislation, there certainly are some important issues to revise in the 10th Year Review of Ontario's Endangered Species Act. Specifically, it is in the best interest of Ontario citizens and environment to revisit the ability of development approval to override the protection of species at risk. Indeed, this report by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario reveals: "The MNRF has never denied a permit to harm a threatened or endangered species. And, the permit-by-rule system only requires proponents to minimize (not eliminate or compensate for) harm to affected species at risk; the MNRF also turns a blind eye to whether proponents comply with these weakened rules. Making it worse, the ministry keeps the public in the dark about what activities it allows. The ministry must overhaul its approach to managing the Endangered Species Act approvals program, including enhancing monitoring and enforcement" (2017). I support the need to revise the Act, but I am very concerned by the values and priorities revealed thus far. While there are ways of economy and environment to work together, the Endangered Species Act' purpose cannot be 'economic development'.