Environmental groups fear government using pandemic as an excuse to put species at risk
Colin Perkel/The Canadian Press
Last week, the province proposed extending the exemption for another year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that consultation isn’t required due to a temporary regulation it put in place on April 1. The province has, however, opened up the proposal to public comments until June 18.
“The CFSA provides for the sustainable management of Crown forests while regarding plant and animal life, water, soil, air and social and economic values.”“We’re concerned they’re taking the COVID-19 moment to undermine environmental legislation that has nothing to do with the pandemic itself,” said Reykia Fick, the nature and food campaigner with Greenpeace Canada.
“The full purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to protect and recover species, not to minimize damage, which is what’s in the Crown Forest Sustainability Act,” he said. Ian Dunn, the executive director of the Ontario Forest Industries Association, said that is not the case.“We have a very robust planning process under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act and that includes developing and including protections for species at risk,” he said.
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