Having worked with…

Having worked with endangered species act, both reviewing natural heritage policies, official plans and development proposals, the legislation does not need to be touched, the implementation does - particularly giving the appropriate ministry (MEPC now) enough resources and staff to effectively implement the ESA. Land is at a premium in southern Ontario particularly but also for resource extraction in the north. What we can not afford to do is to lose any more valuable lands that are essential to recovering species at risk. Habitat loss is the number one threat to species across the globe, with climate change this will only worsen. We need natural species to allow species to adapt, give species the remaining habitat it has to persist. The questions asked of Ontarians in the discussion were one-sided and misleading, specifically to address development. Not one of the questions addressed concerns voiced by Environmental groups or concerned citizens - only the woes of the industrial sector. This is the endangered species act, not the endangered business act. Challenge businesses to overcome these "hurdles" and think outside the box. They have the ingenuity to do it. Leave the little natural habitat left alone.