I have been involved in this…

I have been involved in this process right from the discussion papers to submitting at the standing committee. There are many flaws within this law that need to be addressed.

First is the Minister must have a say in the process. The COSSARO committee needs to be answerable to someone. Also on that committee should be more than just Scientists that can read data.
The process the committee used must also be amended as the way it works now, species that are not at risk whatsoever get on the list, such as grey fox, spotted wintergreen etc. There are several species that get listed simply because we are on the extreme fringe of their normal living range. And because of the way the law is written, they are put on, and must have a recovery program. Well you can not recover what was never here. Thus you waste money on a species that will never be populus in this area.
Also there must be a mechanism that allows to make distinctions in areas within the province. IE. there may be a problem with something in Thunder Bay, that is unique to that area, but no problem in Cornwall, yet when something is listed, the policy blankets the province, which may or may not be necessary.
Activities allowed under the act must also be re-accessed. For example and eagle's nest or something of that nature. We put all kinds of restrictions around a species that has chosen to build their nest where that practice has been going on for ages. I know of three nests that are right next to a highway, yet we are told they we need to modify our activities around such.
The "Drop Box" system that is now used by CUSSARO is in it methodology flawed as it forces more species to be declared at risk than what is necessary. Just because something "fits" into the box, does not mean it should be a species at risk. I refer back to the examples of Grey Fox, and Spotted Wintergreen.
Also the MNRF should be forced to follow their own policy. I think of red sided dace, where the MNRF will stock trout in those creeks that have them, yet forbid harvesting of minnows.
In short, this whole policy/law needs to be revisited and revised.