Agreements, Permits and other Instruments

The Minister may enter into agreements for the purpose of assisting in the protection or recovery of species that are listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List. Such an agreement may, for that purpose, authorize a person to engage in an activity that would otherwise be prohibited.
 
The Minister may also issue a permit that authorizes a person to engage in an activity that would otherwise be prohibited. These permits may only be issued in specified circumstances.
 
If specified conditions are met, instruments issued under other Acts that authorize a person to engage in an activity have the same effect as a permit issued by the Minister under the Bill.
Special provisions govern agreements and permits relating to aboriginal people.
 
Permits issued by the Minister under the Bill may be amended or revoked in specified circumstances. If the Minister intends to amend or revoke a permit without the consent of the holder of the permit, notice must be given and the holder of the permit may require that a hearing be held before the Minister makes a decision.

Enforcement

The Bill contains a number of provisions relating to enforcement. These include provisions designating enforcement officers and, in specified circumstances, authorizing them to conduct inspections and searches. Orders may be made in specified circumstances. A person against whom an order is made may require that a hearing be held and, after a hearing is held, the Minister may confirm, amend or revoke the order.
 

Offences and Penalties

A contravention of specified provisions of the Bill, or of provisions of agreements, permits or orders under the Bill, is an offence. A person cannot be convicted of an offence if the person establishes that the person exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence, or that the person honestly and reasonably believed in the existence of facts that, if true, would render the person's conduct innocent. The powers of the court that convicts a person are set out. Other provisions govern procedural and evidentiary matters related to prosecutions.