Public Input Coordinator…

Public Input Coordinator
Species Conservations Policy Branch
300 Water Street, Floor N
Peterborough Ont
K9J 3C7
ESAReg@ontario.ca

Re: 10 year review of the Endangered Species Act, ERO 013-4143

To Whom it May Concern:
As witnessed with the Oak Ridge Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) in 2000 and more recently, the response to Bill 66, residents across southern Ontario including the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM), Greenbelt and Simcoe County, care deeply about the protection of habitat for all wildlife particularly Species at Risk.
The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust was formed in 2000 by volunteers involved in the advocacy for the creation of the ORMCP under the Harris government with the support of MPP Steve Gilchrist (past ORMLT Board member). Since 2000, the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust has worked with many levels of government to work within the land conservation framework and land-use planning in Ontario.
Our current Natural Heritage Mapping Strategy across the ORM, Greenbelt and Simcoe County uses a system that weighs the number of species at risk and assesses the priority of habitat protection required. The current Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides protection for the protection of the habitats of species at risk.
The primary cause of species decline in Ontario (as well as nationally, and globally) is habitat loss and degradation, primarily from development. Additional limits need to be set to prevent further decline, whereas creating greater efficiencies to expedite habitat loss is counter productive.
We highly recommend that the current ESA is not changed to allow faster implementation for business purposes. Its primary purpose to protect species at risk and must be strengthened, not reduced.
Sincerely,
Susan Walmer CPA, CMA
Executive Director