Wetlands are critical to the…

Wetlands are critical to the environment and safety of communities in Ontario. They mitigate the risks of flooding and provide crucial habitats that promote biodiversity, the loss of which is reaching a dangerous tipping point in terms of global ecosystem collapse.

Under the new legislation, it appears species-at-risk habitat will no longer factor into decisions about which wetlands should be protected. This appears to be merely favour to developers, much to the detriment of the environment and existing communities reliant on wetlands to prevent flooding. If provincial oversight is rolled back as described in the proposal, there may be a dangerous risk of further biodiversity loss and increased flooding, as the intended result of these changes appears to be the paving of wetlands to increase suburban development.

As such, Ontario should not proceed with the proposed changes to the to the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System.