Dear Hon. Minister Phillips,…

Dear Hon. Minister Phillips,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the review of the Endangered Species Act. Please consider this my submission to the public consultation.

As you know, more than 230 species in Ontario are currently at risk. Habitat loss and degradation are the major drivers of decline. That is why it’s more important than ever to strengthen protections for wildlife, especially those already at risk.

The Endangered Species Act already provides significant exemptions to industry. We need legislation that makes it harder — not easier — for habitat to be destroyed. While I appreciate the need to encourage development, we can’t do so at the expense of habitat and wildlife, or soon we will have nothing left. Limits must be set. Businesses of the future will demand healthy, thriving ecosystems in which to function. By opening for business at any expense, we will soon be paying the ultimate price through destruction of the nature that sustains us.

I, therefore, am asking you to:

- Prioritize the recovery of at-risk species over the demands of developers.
- Repeal the industry exemptions under section 55.
- Ensure that habitat is protected and restored to facilitate species recovery, instead of merely mitigating the adverse impacts of harmful activities.

A strong Endangered Species Act will mean a stronger Ontario now and in the future.

Thank you.