Ontario Provincial Government Proposes Making Temporary Logger Exemption to Endangered Species Permanent.

The Ontario provincial government is proposing making a temporary, 2013 exemption, for loggers from the endangered species law permanent. The change was introduced as part of Bill 229, a piece of legislation introduced Nov. 5 to enact measures the Progressive Conservative government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, had outlined in its 2020 budget. In an email message explaining the proposed changes, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry spokesperson Maimoona Dinani said removing logging companies from the endangered species rules eliminates “duplicative requirements” while “maintaining rigorous oversight and sustainable management of Ontario’s Crown forests.” Dinani in the email went onto say that “The proposed changes do not decrease current protections for species at risk already in place under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA),” Dinani said. “Ontario’s sustainable forest management framework will continue to provide for the consideration of species at risk – as it has done since the passing of the CFSA.” The Ontario legislature is currently considering the legislation.