It’s ironic that the…

It’s ironic that the negative changes to the Endangered Species Act are buried in an omnibus bill called the “More Homes, More Choice Act. The proposed changes to the ESA in Schedule 5 will contribute to habitat loss for species at risk in the province of Ontario – the loss of homes for some of our most imperilled species. The proposed changes will also reduce the choices environmental advocates have to protect those species.
Most of us now acknowledge that we live in a biodiversity crisis. Species throughout the world are disappearing at rates comparable to mass extinction events in the Earth’s distant past. It is incumbent on people and governments everywhere to respond to this crisis with resolve. To act with wisdom and courage to save the planet’s priceless biodiversity. We need to acknowledge that humankind wields enormous transformational power over nature and the environment. We are responsible for the biodiversity crisis that exists today. The loss of our unique, wonderful, inspirational, fellow travellers diminishes the world and it diminishes us.
Here’s what two of the world’s distinguished naturalists have to say about biodiversity:
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement, the greatest source of beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” David Attenborough

“I will argue that every scrap of biological diversity is priceless, to be learned and cherished, and never to be surrendered without a struggle.” E. O. Wilson

The Ontario government is finding out that Ontarian’s embrace E.O. Wilson’s argument. We value our priceless biological diversity and we won’t surrender that biodiversity without a struggle. The struggle in this instance is to stop Schedule 5 of the More Homes, More Choice Act from being implemented.

Please drop Schedule 5 from Bill 108!

On behalf of the 108 members of the Halton/North Peel Naturalist Club