Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to the ESA. I strongly oppose the changes that are being considered. They will not improve outcomes for species at risk. On the contrary, they would make it easier for industry and developers to destroy the habitats of our most vulnerable plants and animals. I want Ontario to be a hotspot for biodiversity and a refuge for species trying to adapt during the climate crisis that we’re in.

More specifically, I do not support changes which would introduce broad ministerial discretion to interfere with the science-based listing process, to suspend and limit protections, and to ignore legislated timelines for policies and reporting. Nor do I support the “pay-to-slay” scheme that would grease the wheels of destruction by allowing developers and other proponents of harmful activities to pay into a fund in lieu of fulfilling requirements for on-the-ground reparation for the damage they do to species and their habitats.

Improving outcomes for species at risk requires enforcement, not weakening, of the law. It also requires investment in stewardship, not writing off species at risk and their habitats as red tape.

Healthy and functioning natural areas that are high in biodiversity are beneficial to human and community health. This is demonstrated in the recent UN report (the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) update report, May 2019) shows that ‘nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history – and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely.’ This is human caused and it is up to fix it for nature’s sake, as well as for our economic stability, livelihood, food security, health and quality of life. One action that we can take now is to strengthen the Endangered Species Act to protect vulnerable species and their habitats, not to protect businesses.

I urge you to not move forward with these proposed changes and instead make Ontario a leader once again in species protection.