Waterkeeper expresses support for legislative changes re: species at risk in Ontario
Note: Our official, 7-page submission is available here in pdf format
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper offers this comment under the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights regarding the proposed amendments to the Endangered Species Act.
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is an environmental organization dedicated to defending Canadian waterways. Waterkeeper fulfills its mission by educating the public about Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes Basin and by conducting research and public education activities on behalf of the watershed. Our goal is to restore and protect Lake Ontario's natural resources, as well as contribute to its aesthetic, social, recreational and economic value.
This comment is a summary of the main points contained in Waterkeeper's responses to the Ministry of Natural Resources' Questionnaire, attached below.
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper supports the spirit of the proposal for the following two reasons:
The amendments will greatly strengthen Ontario's inadequate endangered species legislation. A recent study found that 77% of endangered species are unprotected by the legislation. It also found that 76% of endangered species with known trends are either already gone from Ontario or are declining in numbers.
The amendments create much needed formal procedures and binding timelines for the listing of species, the protection of species, and public reporting.
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper offers the following seven recommendations to strengthen the proposed amendments:
Give formal legal status and protection to all species designated as endangered, threatened or extirpated by COSSARO.
Give formal legal status and protection to the significant habitat of all species designated as endangered, threatened or extirpated by COSSARO.
Use formal legislation to require consideration of the potential impacts on endangered species in decision making processes through formal legislation. As it stands, such consideration is only mentioned in provincial policy guidelines under legislation such as the Planning Act and Aggregate Resources Act.
Require assessment of areas of significant habitat within a prescribed timeframe.
Define offences such that they reflect the severity of the offence and promote effective deterrence.
Create severe penalties for wilful offences and provide incentives for habitat and species protection.
Provide sufficient resources for enforcement.
Note: Our official, 7-page submission is available here in pdf format