I do not agree with the…

I do not agree with the following proposed changes for Ontario's Endangered Species Act:

-giving the minister power to suspend the status of protected species
- no longer legislating protecting habitat
- no longer automatically protecting species at risk
- allowing development projects to pay to bypass permitting requirements

The automatic protection of endangered species must continue for each species plays an important role in the survival of the ecosystem as a whole. Although as humans we would like to believe that we are separate from and in control of the ecosystem we still rely on clean water, clean air, and a nourishing environment to thrive. These are needs for use that would be also threatened were these proposed changes to be made. Without protection for the vulnerable species considered endangered, we put ourselves and future generations of people living here at risk. I would prefer not to have to explain to my children and grandchildren how our generation allowed integral species to go extinct because we wanted a short term payoff.

On the subject of bypassing permitting requirements for development projects: if we continue to push into spaces where wildlife previously lived we will see increased threats from coyotes and other predators in our neighbourhoods.