This proposed legislation…

This proposed legislation/Bill (all 5 schedules) should be withdrawn as it is backstepping from the current respected legislation to protect the natural environment, human health, vulnerable populations, including Indigenous populations.

I will start with the proposed changes to the Species at Risk Act. It is the government's responsibility to make sure, for ALL the people of Ontario, that they are doing everything that they can to protect these animal species and habitat because if our government doesn't, who will? It is more important than the greed and need for the dirty dollars because when we have come and gone from this earth the life that is here will depend on the earth and all its biodiversity to keep generations living into the future.

To allow chosen proponents (i.e., 'trusted proponents' or wealthy friends of this government) to skirt laws in areas deemed by this government as 'special economic zones' is completely egregiously undemocratic. I would say there needs to be a fulsome definition of 'trusted proponents' and these proponents should not be allowed to skirt multiple tiers of government laws but they should be 'trusted' to uphold the laws.

I would suggest that this government keep the respected ESA, 2007 and work within it (instead of repealing it) to allow for projects to move through quicker. It is true we need strategic early reviews of where we can site human development and avoid places where biodiversity is evident and supports the life that supports us as humans. That would mean directing development to appropriate areas that would have minimal environmental impact as it is really not species at risk, it is habitat at risk due to destruction and the careless oversight by the government. The pay to slay mentality is so destructive and we as humans can not begin to understand the complex and complicated world of nature and we can not simply do what is easy to address the immediate problem and hope that it will work (i.e. moving a turtle) - it is bigger than that and bigger than us.

I know this entire letter writing campaign is falling on the deaf ears of this government and that this Env Registry, hear the people submission process, is an annoyance and perfunctory for a government that feels empowered to do whatever it is they want to do.

I beseech this government to listen to scientists and those involved in the natural world as the concrete jungle and human conditions will not exist without ensuring the natural world can function alongside. Please show that you can be smart, sensitive and do the right thing to ensure progress for people, but not at the expense of nature. It can be done! Look to Europe and places like Copenhagen and other progressive cities and countries and be the LEADER you were voted in to be!

Respectfully.