Under the action/pillar …

Under the action/pillar "reducing regulatory burdens for industry to access wood", my comment is that forestry regulations have an important purpose - to regulate the harvesting of wood so as to reduce harmful impacts to the environment and by expansion to air quality, wildlife, biodiversity health, climate change, and to all Canadians. Prioritizing industry over environmental protection here would be a short-sighted decision that would result in short-term profits but serious harm to Canadians in the long-run. In 2014, 34,200 hectares in Canada were lost to deforestation (according to Natural Resources Canada). It is imperative that Ontario's forest strategy not merely appear to be sustainable by using "green-washing" language on the surface, but rather that it actually reduces environmental impacts to the lowest possible levels and prioritizes environmental health OVER short-term industrial profits. It is also imperative that Indigenous Peoples be highly involved in forest management, especially pertaining to forests on lands that are subject to land claims.

I am a policy analyst in the federal government. Thank you for taking my comment into account.