Public Input Coordinator…

Public Input Coordinator
Species Conservation Policy Branch
300 Water Street
Floor 5N
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7
ESAReg@ontario.ca

Re: 10 year review of the Endangered Species Act.ERO 013-5033

To Whom It May Concern,

Concerned Citizens in Adjala Tosorontio Incorporated (CCAT) is an organization dedicated to environmental issues which will affect our community now and their impact on future generations. Our community is bounded by the Oakridges Moraine and the Niagara Escarpment with the Pine, Boyne, and Nottawasaga Rivers transversing our municipality and where there exists more than sixty species of plants and animals which are deemed vulnerable, endangered or threatened. Our forests, wetlands and parks provide a healthy habitat for residents. However, we are now concerned about the treatment and protection of sensitive flora and fauna in the future.

Where do we start?

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario stated in their annual report 2014-2015 that using the 'Hine's Emerald' as a scientific property, we have evidence of environmental explanation. Our provincial government takes their own approach at the expense of species at risk. It is clear that certain landscapes and species must be protected from urbanization and invasion. In our community the Bobolink and Meadowlark, at risk species, were ignored in favour of a gravel pit. Other species of concern such as aquatic, birds and mammals will no doubt suffer from the placement of this 'industrial production' in an established farm and freehold community. Under subsections 9.1-9.4 in this new proposal, the minister will be able to permit prohibitions protecting a species by removing them-when, how, to where, and how will this affect the ecosystem? This is an arbitrary decision made not by scientists but by bureaucracy. This is not only an affront to animal species but to the probable effect on humanity in general.

We fear for the loss of more than 240 Species at Risk in Ontario. A recent UN report finds that one million species face extinction worldwide according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Three quarters of the land on the planet has now been "severely altered" by human actions. The same goes for 66% of the marine environments. Shockingly, 85% of the world's wetlands have disappeared.

Our infrastructure coexists in delicate balance. "Nature's Contributions to People" includes the provision of food, production of energy, sources of medicine, maintenance of options for the future--clearing a forest will decrease pollination, climate regulation and destroy habitat.

We have so much more in Ontario-scientific education, clean water, a vast wilderness-we must do better! We must stop exploiting our environment!

What we request:
* DO NOT ALLOW THE ESA TO BECOME POLITICIZED BY DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO THE MINISTER TO REMOVE OR DELAY PROTECTION
* DO NOT CHANGE THE LISTING PROCESS AND THE ROLE OF COSSARO
* ENSURE THAT HABITAT LOSS IS SCIENTIFICALLY AND MORALLY PROTECTED FROM DEVELOPMENT
* DO NOT ALLOW DEVELOPERS "PAY TO SLAY"-- SKIRTING ANIMAL PROTECTION

Economic development cannot and must not override natural laws.
Biodiversity is our heritage, the wildlife, land and water-inherited by each generation since the dawn of civilization. Our economy will not thrive in a faltering environment with the loss of our species at risk. Human beings, from voters to policy makers need to see the natural world as more than something to admire or exploit.

Most sincerely,

Janet Budgell
CONCERNED CITIZENS IN ADJALA TOSORONTIO INCORPORATED
cc
Jim Wilson MPP
Board of Directors