An Ontario environmental organization wants people to sign their petition urging the Ford government not to ease logging regulations.
Ontario Nature, a Toronto-based environmental charity, has started an online petition campaign to get provincial authorities to back off on plans to loosen regulations on forestry companies being considered as a way to get them through COVID-19 industry issues.
The group says the Ontario government is proposing to extend the forestry industry's exemption from complying with Ontario's Endangered Species Act (ESA). Environmentalists say it took decades to put these protections in place, and removing them would cause irreparable harm to at-risk plants and animals.
Julee Boan, Ontario Nature Boreal Program Manager said this proposal is open to public comments until June 18.
"As Ontario rises out of the COVID-19 crisis, all levels of government must put the health of the planet, people and the economy at the forefront," Boan said.
"With the support of all political parties, the Government of Ontario passed the ESA in 2007 to protect species at risk and advance their recovery. We must not abandon this goal. Please join us in envisioning and demanding an approach to forestry that adequately addresses the crisis of ongoing biodiversity loss," Boan added.
"Let's call on the Government of Ontario to consult with scientific and Indigenous knowledge experts and amend the Crown Forest Sustainability Act to support the recovery of species at risk.
Boan concluded. "Speak up for at risk plants and animals by signing our Action Alert before the June 18 deadline."
You can access the petition online here.