I am utterly appalled and…

I am utterly appalled and outraged at the proposed changes to Ontario's Endangered Species Act. This legislation is supposed to PROTECT species, not make it easier for developers to make a quick buck off their habitat.

Species at Risk can't speak for themselves. Rather, they rely on intelligent people to speak for them. In this capacity, I would like to express the following concerns with legislative changes proposed in the 10-year review:

1) Species at Risk habitat should be off-limits, no exceptions. Has MECP not learned from DFO's experience that habitat compensation doesn't maintain, let alone improve, habitat and the health and viability of species? Any clause that allows developers to pay to destroy Species at Risk and their habitat should never have been considered.

2) As people of Ontario, we are stewards for the biodiversity within our provincial boundaries. If a species is "at risk" in Ontario, its status outside out boundaries shouldn't matter in how we protect it within our jurisdiction. To exclude "edge of range" species from protection is just lazy, short-sighted government. News flash: Our climate is changing, and species that may currently be doing OK elsewhere may not fare so well as the future unfolds. They need us to save space for them.

3) All decisions regarding Species at Risk and their habitat should be science-based. Enabling and supporting research and monitoring, and letting scientists guide protection and recovery is critical for improving outcomes for threatened, and Endangered species. COSSARO needs to be comprised entirely of scientists, not opened up to non-scientists with "community knowledge". Don't worry about missing out on "community knowledge" -- scientists are community members and can therefore cover that aspect of Species at Risk / habitat consideration.

4) The Minister should have NO say on species and habitat protections recommended by COSSARO and/or established in the legislation. If the Act is based on the precautionary principle, its based on a solid reason. Listing decisions should not be forced for reconsideration. Only under site- or species-specific, case-by-case review should there be ANY consideration whatsoever for proponents wishing to undertake destructive activities in protected habitat -- and any such review MUST be advised and guided by scientists, landscape ecologists, and other qualified experts.

We should be feeling lucky to have so much biodiversity in Ontario. We should be showing gratitude and respect toward all the native species that call our province "home". Do we not know better?? I would like to think that the intelligent people of Ontario DO know better, and DO appreciate and respect our provincial biodiversity.

And I hope Minister Phillips has the sense to REJECT these damaging proposed amendments and replace them with strengthened enforcement and habitat stewardship.