SPECIES AT RISK Ontario…

SPECIES AT RISK

Ontario needs INTELLIGENT  management of our natural species.  The changes proposed by this government to the  present Species at
Risk Act endanger priceless natural resources. This does NOT make  economic sense. What is being proposed will trigger a steep decline in species protection and place many others in peril.

Specifically,

The proposal to allow developers to pay money in lieu of species protection only INCREASES the risk factors for the endangered species.

Giving the Minister sole authority to decide how species will be protected
is narrow thinking:

- Who has more expertise, leading scientists  in their field, or the   Minister? 

- Providing the Minister of the Environment and Conservation sweeping powers to AVOID and DELAY protection of a species to the point where its habitat could be destroyed through development, only INCREASES the possibility of extinction and makes protection mute once there is no more habitat or species to protect.

-The Minister can DELAY protection by asking the experts on COSSARO  to reconsider their listing decisions. This DELAY again
threatens the species at risk.

*The Ford government is considering DELISTING species currently listed but refusing to say which ones. If the government has valid, well researched intentions, why the secrecy?

* The government’s proposal to protect species ONLY at a critical point is short-sighted and MEANINGLESS because the survival of the species would already be on the brink.

* The COSSARO members will also be ‘dumbed down’ by including members outside the fields of expertise, such as community members. ‘Community members’ is not defined. However, it is reasonable to assume, given the direction of this new legislation, that ‘community members’ will include those from industry, sport hunting and farming. Their interests are
self-serving rather than at an arms-length and unbiased.  It also does not provide a ratio of community members to experts.