While I strongly support…

While I strongly support most of what is written here, as a lifelong Ontario resident I am troubled by the wording of the following: "to look for ways to streamline approvals and provide clarity to support economic development." This wording could suggest creating loopholes that could allow development concerns to over-ride the rest of the important aims of the Endangered Species Act. In the interest of our long-term social responsibility, I would not support vague or imprecise wording or omissions that could weaken this Act.

"Clarity" is always desirable, but clarity should not come through processes, procedures, or statutes that make skirting the best available science possible. Any changes to the the Endangered Species Act should make clear that any activity subject to this Act always needs to take reasonable account of the best and most recent science related to endangered species in question.