The Ontario Wetland…

The Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES) should be kept and strengthened as it is science-based and gives a standardized approach to assessing wetlands. Most Wetlands in the Niagara area are complexes and most would no longer be classified as significant wetlands at all after the proposed changes to the system. Destroying the smaller wetlands in a complex would lead to others being degraded.
Wetlands should be evaluated with consideration of their function in providing critical habitat for species at risk and for wildlife and migration habitat for all species.
Wetlands are natural assets which provide many benefits to the people in a watershed such as flood mitigation and water purification, carbon sequestering, ground water recharge and erosion control. There is enough land in Ontario on which to build homes without paving over wetlands.
A central agency, preferably the MNRF, is needed to oversee and coordinate wetland evaluation and information. Municipalities do not always have staff trained to do this and there does not seem to be a comprehensive method in the new guidelines for the information to be stored and accessed. We all know that wetland evaluations conducted by consultants who are paid by developers lack completeness.
We in Niagara have already lost over 85 percent of our wetlands. We need to treasure and preserve those we have left. We ask that you withdraw this proposal.