I am a long standing…

I am a long standing conservative, primarily due to the greater fiscal responsibility and business-friendliness I see with this party. I feel being financially healthy is a necessary step to fund other key programs such as education and health care. And having strong and growing businesses are key to the vitality of our population, and future generations.

That said, there is something even more important : leaving a healthy planet for our children and future generations. We have one planet. If we screw it up, no amount of cash will be able to fix it.

To note - I share your parties' concern regarding the federal carbon tax. It is a regressive tax, and will not help drive significant consumption reductions.

However, I have grave concern over these proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act in Ontario. I have read the text of the proposed changes in detail. It is clear to me that they will very significantly reduce protections, to the point of making the existing Act virtually useless. I have listened to attempts to explain how the changes would actually help endangered species, but find those attempts disingenuous.

How can allowing developers and municipalities to pay a fee to bypass protections help endangered species. (That is certainly what the proposed changes will allow, despite claims to the contrary. From the proposed changes, literally: "allow municipalities or other infrastructure developers the option to pay a charge in lieu of completing certain on-the-ground activities required by the act".)

The proposed changes will also negate protection for species that are endangered in Ontario but not elsewhere. That is, we will allow our habitats to be destroyed and species to become extinct in Ontario just because they are not (yet) endangered elsewhere. This can only be described as short-sighted and irresponsible.

And, the proposed changes extend the time from when a species is classified as 'at risk' to when the species becomes protected by the act, from 3 months to years. Currently, an independent (non-political) group of experts classifies species at risk. Once a species is classified as at risk, the species becomes protected within 3 months. The proposal extends this time to 12 months, and allows the Ontario Minister of the Environment to use his/her discretion to ask the group of experts to 'reconsider' their classification, effectively extending that 3 month period to multiple years, and introducing a risk of political and lobbying interests to dominate decisions.

It is not my style to be emotional or to make threats. But in this case, it is difficult to avoid. I am currently doing everything I can to educate other Ontarians on these proposed changes. If the proposed changes are enacted without significant changes, I will do everything I can to vote a party in, in our next election, which will take a more responsible attitude towards the health of our planet and environment.