ONTARIO GOVERNMENT BEGINS UPDATING AND STRENGTHENING SPECIES AT RISK PROTECTION

For Immediate Release
May 09, 2006

ONTARIO GOVERNMENT BEGINS UPDATING AND STRENGTHENING SPECIES AT RISK PROTECTION
McGuinty Government Supports Our Rich Natural Heritage

TORONTO — The Ontario government is proposing broader protection for species at risk and their habitats and is looking for the public’s input, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.

" Stronger species at risk legislation is part of our commitment to conserve Ontario’s rich natural heritage for future generations and a key component of Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy," said Ramsay." This is the first time since the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1971 that Ontario’s species at risk laws have undergone a thorough review and we are encouraging everyone interested to take part in the process."

Working with an advisory panel, the ministry has developed a number of proposals to be consulted on as part of the review. The proposals look at:

• Providing broader protection provisions for species and their habitats
• Including more effective enforcement provisions
• Enhancing facilitation of stewardship and recovery activities
• Acknowledging the important role of private landowner involvement and stewardship approaches
• Complementing the federal Species at Risk Act in a manner that reflects Ontario’s needs.

Ontario is home to more than 15,000 species of plants and wildlife. Currently, 176 of these species are identified as being at risk, which means they may disappear from the province if their rate of decline continues.

This review is just one way the McGuinty government is protecting our natural heritage. Other initiatives include:

• Launching Ontario’s biodiversity strategy
• Protecting 1.8 million acres of greenspace in the Greenbelt, providing a safe habitat for 66 species at risk
• Developing a strategy for wolf conservation in Ontario to ensure the long-term sustainability of the species.

"Stronger legislation will help us take the necessary action to reverse the rate of species decline in Ontario and ensure our native plants and wildlife have the habitat they need to thrive," said Ramsay." The review we are launching today is the beginning of a new era in species at risk protection and recovery in our province."

A discussion paper outlining each proposal and an online questionnaire are available at www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/speciesatrisk. The ministry is also posting a notice, with a link to the discussion paper, on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry today for 60 days. To view the notice, visit http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/samples/search/Ebrquery_REG.htm and enter registry number AB06E6001.

Related Information

• Backgrounder: SPECIES AT RISK LEGISLATION REVIEW

For More Information

Jolanta Kowalski
Communications Services Branch
416-314-2106

General Enquiries

Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)