On behalf of Lecours Lumber…

On behalf of Lecours Lumber Co. Limited thank you for the opportunity to comment on the 10th Year Review of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act: Proposed changes, ERO number 013-5033. We look forward to continuing to work with your government to modernize and improve the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We are optimistic that this will result in improved outcomes for species at risk while ensuring Ontario is a place to grow our renewable forest sector, unleash its full potential and provide good-paying jobs for our people. However, the vagueness of the proposed changes does not provide necessary business certainty.

The 10th year review of the provincial Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides government with a rare opportunity to chart a course for the next decade and beyond. Political decisions on this will have far-reaching social, economic, and environmental impacts for generations to come. Therefore, the most important action the government must take remains permanent recognition of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) as an equivalent process to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) through Section 55. The CFSA already provides landscape, stand, and site-level direction for managing, conserving, and protecting species at risk. Having two acts attempting to accomplish the same outcome represents the single greatest piece of red tape and duplication to this sector.

In March, we asked that this essential first step be accomplished in your Government’s legislative changes to the ESA. However, the proposed changes indicate that a Section 18 Regulation will be the authorization process for forestry, instead of a Section 55 Regulation. For the past 10 years, we have consistently asked for a permanent Section 55 Regulation as the authorization process for the forest sector. The former government recognized that the CFSA and the ESA cannot be harmonized and provided a workable, temporary solution that was defended in court. We are asking the Ford Government to take this workable, temporary solution and make it permanent.

We are asking that you revise the proposed legislative ESA changes to acknowledge that Section 55 will be the authorization mechanism for forest operations on Crown lands. Instead, MECP appears to be pursuing a revised section 18 “harmonization” instrument which is at odds with our request. This bold move, like your support for other industries and activities with the Species at Risk Conservation Trust, would send a positive message to the forest sector and Lecours Lumber Co. Limited.

In addition to this critical revision, it also remains necessary to ensure the following requirements be embedded in a new, modernized ESA:
1. Consideration of climate change on habitat in all species at risk policy
2. Cumulative impact of all species at risk policy on a healthy economy
3. Socio-economic impact analysis must be completed and shared with impacted stakeholders and First Nations prior to any species at risk policy being implemented

The sector will continue to operate under the CFSA which, by law, requires, forestry operations to follow an approved forest management plan. Guides delivered under the CFSA include operational prescriptions and conditions, which may include reserves, modified operations, or specific conditions on road use and construction in the area near a species at risk and their habitat.

Since the establishment of the ESA, we have been clearly and consistently outlining what is required for permanent, long-term certainty within Ontario’s forest sector and for our northern and rural communities. In order to avoid catastrophic socio-economic impacts, we need permanent, legislative recognition that the CFSA is an equivalent process to the ESA, while developing workable species at risk policy.

Sincerely,

Eric Buteau, CPA, CA
General Manager/Controller