ERO 019-2636 - Species at…

ERO 019-2636 - Species at Risk Conservation Fund
The government of Ontario needs to keep the Endangered Species Act strong so that it can fulfill its original intention to protect threatened and endangered species and their habitat. The Species at Risk Conservation Fund will weaken this legislation and undermine its goals by making it easier for developers to obtain permits to damage or destroy the habitats of species that are especially vulnerable to habitat loss.
When all that is required to obtain an authorization for a harmful activity is to pay some money into a fund, activities harmful to a species will increase dramatically. No longer will a developer have to provide an overall benefit to a species and no longer will a net gain be the goal.
Some of the species included in the initial fund scenario occur here in Niagara. During my 20 years here I have seen the numbers of bobolink, eastern meadowlark, butternut, eastern whip-poor-will and Blanding’s turtle plummet as more and more habitat was lost. The fund will lead to more loss of this habitat as more exemptions and permits are issued and these species will decline even more. The health and vitality of our natural areas and the ability to observe wildlife is important to many residents of the Niagara area, so more and quicker development will harm us too.
The formulas the fund uses are worrisome. Offsetting has seldom worked anywhere and where would these new habitats be created? Many rich areas of biodiversity here in Niagara took centuries to develop.
This fund will not protect species at risk. Only the provincial government can issue regulations that will truly lead to the protection and recovery of these species and their habitat. The government of Ontario has a duty to protect species at risk, to look to the future and not to let more of our natural world be permanently destroyed for short-term benefit.