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. Species at risk need our ADDITIONAL protection and a reduction of protection is opening the door for permanent loss of diversity. A loss that can never be recovered.

The proposed changes to the ESA would make it easier for industry and developers to destroy the habitats of our most vulnerable plants and animals - which is completely contrary to Ontario's responsibility to our future and our future security.

Diversity matters! Time after time we have witnessed the destruction of habitat from which we cannot recover.

Changes which would allow ministerial discretion to interfere with the science-based endangered species listing process, to suspend and limit protections, and to ignore legislated timelines for policies and reporting. As a resident of Ontario I do not support allowing a political process supersede the needs of the environment and our responsibilities to protect endangered species.

Short sighted "gain" will result in long time, Irreversible loss for our Province.

Introducing a “pay-to-slay” scheme is disgusting and irresponsible. Money does NOT trump our environment! This type of thinking is in fact jepordizing our future prosperity. Creating an environmental "dead zone" where polluters are allowed to call the shots and politicians can decide that diversity is disposable is a dystopian environment that workers, businesses and investors will flee.

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.