This proposal is very…

This proposal is very concerning, and I absolutely do not support it.

The government should have no authority to add of remove protected species from the list - this is a huge conflict of interest, and the provincial government must continue to rely on COSSARO, as an independent committee of species-level experts to advise on species-level protection independently of economic growth. The alternative is a ticket to pay to destroy our collective natural heritage - a natural heritage that the provincial government does not own.

For redefining protections - habitats defined by an animal's dwelling space and immediate area around it, is the equivalate of saying a human only needs their bedroom and the immediate space around it to survive. Wildlife, like humans, need a broader definition that includes their foraging habitat where they search for food, shelter, and safe migration routes. They need space to permit gene flow between populations and refugia in case of major disaster, such as fire or a tornado. Plants require healthy soil communities, and a very specific microclimate directly linked to their surrounding healthy vegetation communities. Habitat needs are highly species specific, making the definition complex, not uncertain.

This proposal significantly narrows the habitat that can be protected, the same habitat that supports SAR - effectively, anyone can register and destroy. Using the above analogy, the person above would experience their kitchen destroyed, since they didn't occupy it for breeding, rearing, staging, wintering or hibernating.

These changes are being proposed to place economic growth above ecosystem function and protection. Sustainable economic growth is inherently reliant on healthy, functional ecosystems and the diversity of species that support them. Each species a small piece of the ecological puzzle, and each piece is important as it interacts with another. The continued decline of many species is a direct indicator of our future economic health - the decline of songbirds indicates land use change that no longer supports the insect populations that control pollination services that drive our food production system and compromised aquatic systems that are essential to all life.

The environment desperately needs layers of protection - not as a duplication, but as a safeguard. While I appreciate the support for voluntary participation, this must not replace legislation, it must be in addition. Conservation cannot continue to be considered an optional, "nice to have" - this only promotes opportunities for those eager to destroy our collective natural heritage. What we do right now will impact Ontario, Canada and the globe - let make a better choice for our collective future.

Your voters are overwhelmingly in favour of improved conservation measures....