| Ontario Endangered Species Act: Review | 10 March 09 |
 Ontario Environmental Commissioner, Gord Miller says the province must strengthen its Endangered Species Act in order to protect the 183 species at risk. The effectiveness of the Act could be "seriously undermined if the government does not exercise significant restraint and caution."In Miller's report entitled The Last Line of Defence: A Review of Ontario's New Protections for Species at Risk, he highlights his concerns over the Act's loopholes that allow the destruction of habitat, with little public input. "The public is (being) denied the right to open, transparent and accountable government decision-making related to these approvals - approvals that harm the species at risk," Mr. Miller said. The Ministry of Natural Resources has the power override to protections in the Act and Miller is calling on the government to publicize proposals for development that could affect species at risk. He also suggests monitoring the province's biodiversity to help species before they reach at-risk status. View Ontario Environmental Commissioner report, The Last Line of Defence: A Review of Ontario's New Protections for Species at Risk (PDF)View March 2, 2009 Ontario Environmental Commissioner press release View March 2, 2009 Globe and Mail article View March 3, 2009 Toronto Star article View March 3, 2009 Globe and Mail article Sources: Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star |
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