I am writing to provide…

I am writing to provide comments on the 10th Year Review of the ESA. I am a Registered Professional Forester in working in Ontario. I am very disappointed that the proposed changes do not to provide a definitive fix for Forestry. Ontario has been operating under section 55 exemptions and a cloud of uncertainty for far too many years. The proposed changes do nothing to address this serious concern. As a professional I understand that we all want to do the right thing for species while at the same time manage for other values and protect jobs and forest dependent communities. Ontario's Forests are well managed while providing for endangered species. Ontario has been well served by the CFSA Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The CFSA and Forest Management Provisions provide the basis to manage endangered species while balancing many values. The Forest sector requires a PERMANENT SOLUTION to the ESA. This could be accomplished thru a PERMANENT section 55 Regulatory Exemption. Endangered species are important, but so are jobs, communities and the economy. I firmly believe that making the balanced CFSA an equivalent process to the ESA can allow Ontario to meet these objectives and protect endangered species. I implore the Ontario Government to do the right thing and provide a permanent fix and the certainty that the forest sector needs to continue to support the Northern economy.