Wetlands and wetland…

Wetlands and wetland protections in Southwestern Ontario provide important services both to our environment, in protecting biodiversity, and to our human health. Southern Ontario has lost 75% of its
original wetlands, and in the GTHA fewer than 10% of the original wetlands remain! The cause?
Development of natural areas is the primary cause of wetland loss ... This occurs as a result of ever expanding residential and commercial development around cities and towns.
If the proposed changes to the OWES goes ahead, wetlands, that naturally form a complex network, will be torn apart, divided into small wetland parcels, which can no longer be protected, and sold off to the development industry to pave over for homes that are entirely not needed and not affordable.
The scores for threatened and endangered species will be eliminated, and that destroys biodiversity.
Wetlands in general, receive no protection in Ontario until they are designated 'provincially significant'.
The process to arrive at this designation is slow and often inefficient, and according to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario in her 2018 Report, contains a "260 year backlog ... Instead, all unevaluated wetlands should be protected (presumed significant) until proven otherwise."
If OWES goes ahead, unbelievably, a property owner or developer seeking to remove the significant wetland designation, will be the only authority determining if the wetland evaluation is valid. This proposal is completely destructive. This proposal should be entirely and immediately withdrawn.