Hello, Thank you for taking…

Hello,

Thank you for taking my comment.

I am gravely concerned about the new Species Conservation Act. My understanding is that it will dramatically weaken protection for the most vulnerable members of our natural world.

The weakening is on many fronts: the drastic redefinition of the term habitat to include only the immediate dwelling area for animals; the delisting of over 100 species, relegating their protection only to the Federal government under SARA; the lack of inclusion of any species of special concern; the removal of any requirements for species recovery plans; the creation of new discretionary powers for the Minister to reject any of COSSARO’s recommendations; and, the new requirements of mere registration to proceed with actions that will kill species at risk and destroy their habitats.

I am deeply troubled by this jettisoning of so many of the strong features of the ESA that helped protect many species at risk.

To me, so many of the profound problems of our society come from the loss of our connection to the natural world. Our remaining connection to this world is profoundly at risk from this legislation. Since the government is focussed on economic development, I also encourage it to think of the economic costs and loss of sacrificing our biodiversity. Can we have agriculture without pollinators such as bees and monarch butterflies? Can we have tourism with dead wetlands once all our turtles, a keystone species, are extirpated?

I mourn and grieve the loss of the individuals and the species I believe we will lose with this legislation.

I would ask the government to reconsider this legislation, repeal it, and restore the ESA. As an alternative, I would ask the government to make stringent the regulations under this legislation so that registration becomes something that meaningfully protects species at risk - and not serve as a window dressing of conservation to hide a green light to unbridled economic development.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,

SK