The changes put forth in…

The changes put forth in this proposal effectively amount to eliminating automatic protections for newly listed species, changes to the listing process, and giving the Minister greater discretionary powers. It has been proven by science that the species that are protected in Ontario require protection or face extinction. The Endangered Species Act provides for a "science-based assessment" of whether a species is endangered or not. Traditional knowledge as well as conventional science are included in the assessment, and as a result of that process, currently more than 200 plants and animals are at risk of extinction in Ontario.

Stated on the Ontario government's website: "Protecting and recovering species at risk and their habitat is a key part of conserving Ontario’s biodiversity. Find out what Ontario is doing and how you can help."

So I found out what you're doing and am certainly going to say something now. If science and traditional knowledge have shown that these species require protection, this new government's aims do not supersede this knowledge base. Ontario has already protected these plants and animals based on what has already been proven by people much smarter than any government party.

It's important that the government does not get powers that erase all the work already done by these smart people. It's important that what has already been decided, by outside, objective parties, is not up for change just because some new leader thinks that what should be done. It has already been decided what should be done. You don't get to kill things just because you get elected. Part of your job is to protect living things in this province - and that includes the most vulnerable groups and those that cannot speak for themselves. In this category are the other living things we share our space with.

Do your job. This includes conservation. It's been proven objectively and it's the law - and you do not have the right to change it just to suit your own purposes.