No Time to Lose, Extinction is Forever: All political parties urged to put aside politics and ensure Bill passes by summer

TORONTO, March 30 /CNW/ - Ontario's revised Endangered Species Act
proceeded to second reading yesterday. Bill 184 is the result of extensive
public and industry consultations carried out by the Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources (MNR). With opposition parties now calling for even more
delay, Ontario's leading environmental groups today are underlining the
necessity for quick action.
"It's obvious that some special interests want to slow or stop this Bill.
This is a win-win piece of legislation for the people of Ontario and its
wildlife. If this Bill isn't passed in this legislative session, it will
likely become extinct, just like many of our treasured species of plants and
animals," says Aaron Freeman, Policy Director for Environmental Defence.
The proposed package of new legislation and programs, which includes a
new $18 million stewardship fund to assist landowners in protecting wildlife
habitat, is intended to provide effective protection for Ontario's
approximately 200 endangered species and their habitats. Action is urgently
needed, say the groups, because for those plants and animals for which trends
are known, over 75% are either already gone from Ontario or are on their way
to disappearing.
"We have no time to lose," explains Wendy Francis, Director of
Conservation and Science for Ontario Nature. "There are about 200 endangered
plants and animals in Ontario, which is nearly 40% of all of the endangered
species across Canada. In other words, we have the dubious distinction of
having the most work to do to protect and recover endangered species. Let's
get on with it!"
"Politicians come and go, but extinction is forever," adds Janet Sumner,
Executive Director of CPAWS-Wildlands League. "Every day that we delay,
species like the Woodland Caribou lose more and more of the forests upon which
they depend for survival. If certain politicians and interest groups succeed
in delaying effective legislation, the public will hold them accountable for
exacerbating Ontario's endangered species crisis."
The groups point out that the calls for more consultation lack substance.
Pre-bill consultation began in May 2006 with a detailed discussion paper
distributed to all interested stakeholders. This was followed by a two-month
public consultation period required by Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights.
Then a nine-member government-appointed panel of scientists and legal experts
was struck to identify the best options for a revised Endangered Species Act.
It produced a report, which was released to the public for comment in November
2006

(http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/speciesatrisk/ESA_Advisory_Panel_Report.pdf).