The changes proposed below…

The changes proposed below allow industries to bulldoze Ontario’s vulnerable and protected ecosystem. The province is consulting with Ontarians under the guise of improving the “effectiveness” of environmental protections and ensuring a “balanced approach” to improve the environment and economy. However, a strong economy is dependent on a healthy environment. These changes are NOT helping the many species, whether endangered or nor, survive the encroachment onto their lands. I am so saddened to see the following:

Ridding case-by-case review (“species-specific” approach) and utilizing a “landscape approach” to all applications
Abandoning the mandatory protection of species and their habitats by allowing “ministerial discretion” to remove or delay protections

Undercutting the current science-based listing of species at risk by
adding a review process before listing a species as protected. This second-guesses decisions of the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO).

Watering down legislated timelines for planning and implementation

Lessening requirements to compensate for the damage done by industry and developers undertaking harmful activities.

Companies will be allowed to pay into a conservation fund instead of meeting environmental requirements.

Discarding the idea that individual habitat regulation is needed for each endangered species. Instead, a generalized habitat protection will apply across the board. This undercuts species-specific regulations.

To loosen the “Significant social or economic benefit permit”, s. 17(2)(d): This would soften the existing legislation for applicants.
Emphasize profit over environment