This act eviscerates the…

This act eviscerates the authority of OWES and would result in wholesale destruction of wetlands and habitats. The proposal to alter the boundaries would fragment wetlands systems/complexes and thereby move them out of protected status, by making it more difficult for them reach provincially significant wetland status. A wetland is like the human body: if you remove one part then the remaining parts cannot function properly and the removal will likely result in failure of the whole system.

The habitats of many species would be disrupted and/or destroyed further increasing their vulnerability and leading to their decline and possible extinction. This applies to all fauna, whether those living there or those transiting through. Their ecosystems must be preserved.

The oversight for the evaluation status should rest with a neutral body, not the municipality, so as to ensure a broad and long term view which takes into account wetlands covering more than one municipality. With the dire predictions of the results of global warming, protection against erosion and flooding must be a primary issue when considering development.

Wetlands and their habitats take generations to become established and once built upon, their destruction is irreversible. This act will accelerate their destruction and I am totally opposed to the proposals in it. Other options for more housing exist and should be considered.