I have read the 10th Year…

I have read the 10th Year Review of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act: Discussion Paper and adamantly disagree with the goals of the evaluation. The reason for my objection is the review does not aim to improve species protection and fulfill the mandate of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. In fact, the object of this evaluation appears to be focused on benefiting private business to the detriment of endangered species.

Additionally, I will not support legislation that comes from the review of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act if it does the following:

- Increases timelines before a species is listed as endangered
- Increases transition periods or ministerial discretion on whether to apply, remove or temporarily delay protections for a threatened or endangered species, or its habitat
- Enables the extension of the timeline for Government Response Statements
- Simplifies the requirements for a permit under s. 17(2)d, and exemptions set out by regulation