I'm a resident of Bloor West…

I'm a resident of Bloor West Village in Toronto ON - I monitor the Chimney Swift activity in the area and I report my findings to Bird Studies Canada. The Chimney Swift is currently classified as a Threatened Species and our area (and others) in the city are targeted for development under the Provincial Growth Plan. While I support growth, a holistic approach must be taken, ensuring that development supports/encourages the rich biodiversity of the city. In the case of Chimney Swifts, developers must adhere to the permit requirements for removal of the habitat - not pay fines to skirt responsibilities - and incorporate habitat reconstruction into the development plans, as the species has been in decline for many years due to habitat (brick chimney) loss.

Specific to the proposed changes, I strongly oppose the proposed changes to Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA), as brought forward in Schedule 5 of Bill 108. The changes would remove essential legal protections for species at risk and for the habitats that sustain them.

The proposed changes would lead to delays in protecting species at risk – delays of up to three years for newly listed species – at the discretion of the Minister. The proposed changes would also weaken Ontario’s science-based approach to listing which species receive protection. The proposal weakens virtually all aspects of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act and could put development and industrial interests ahead of species at risk. These changes are inconsistent with the purpose of the Act, which is to protect and recover species at risk in Ontario.

There is more than enough evidence based studies which all warn of biodiversity loss - please do the right thing and do not put corporate profits above protecting habitat and species at risk in Ontario.