Comment
There is so much wrong with the proposed amendments they should be withdrawn.
It is clear the proposal does NOT advance the protection of species at risk (SAR) in Ontario. To modernize the SAR act you first have to know that these species are already at risk of extinction due to primarily loss of habitat, mostly through industrialization forestry and mining and expansion of roads in Ontario's north and wilderness areas. The protected areas are not geographically limited and all SAR throughout Ontario where this law has jurisdiction should be protected.
Qualified scientists are the authority using science based assessment to determine SAR. What is this "community knowledge" proposal for inclusion on the COSSARO? The local lumber company executive? This is not acceptable.
To delay listing of SAR, planning for their recovery and reporting on the facts further delays SAR protection and habitat renewal, at the front end of the problem.
Our government needs to get the best scientific evidence from experts before permitting harmful acts and making regulations, not give ministerial discretion. In this government, ministerial discretion is to rubber stamp forestry, mining and industrial roads to accommodate their needs which further destroys habitat.
In this era of devastation due to climate change, green house gas emissions, decline of biodiversity and the anthropocene, there is no room for exemptions from regulations that try to protect and restore SAR. The exemptions already in place are too extensive to allow this act to protect SAR.
Clients of this act are the SAR, not the corporate clients of this government. Once again your streamlining favours developers and industry, not the People of Ontario and the necessity of all of us to protect and promote biodiversity .To allow Clients/applicants/industry/developers/ to pay to be allowed to expand their ruin on our SAC habitat is simply outrageous and unconscionable. And this by a government who spends $30,000,000 tax dollars to sue about cap and trade? Really!
The SAR Act should be the primary legislation to protect SAR and enable their habitat to recover. Activities should not be allowed under other legislation that would not be allowed under this act.
Economic considerations to postpone or deny protection should not take priority over protecting our SAR. The dollar is not the priority on the devastation of our environment and the nature we are all a part of.
If this government is truly of and for the PEOPLE of Ontario, and not corporate interests, it will withdraw this harmful legislative proposal forthwith.
Submitted April 28, 2019 12:06 PM
Comment on
10th Year Review of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act: Proposed changes
ERO number
013-5033
Comment ID
27569
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status