Statement by Environmental Defence’s Executive Director Tim Gray on the conviction of Town of South Bruce Peninsula under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act:

We are pleased with today’s decision made by Justice of the Peace Charles Anderson. The Town of South Bruce Peninsula has been found guilty of destroying the endangered piping plovers’ habitat on two occasions, putting their survival and recovery at risk.

The ruling shows that the town’s violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and disregard for the endangered birds’ survival, will not be tolerated by Ontario’s courts. Today’s decision also shows that in April and September of 2017, the town made a clear choice to destroy important shoreline habitat.

Earlier this year, the Ontario government weakened the ESA. However, the charges the town received pre-date the province’s legislative changes, and show that the previous wording of the Act was effective at protecting Ontario’s most vulnerable species.

We congratulate the enforcement efforts of the staff at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and hope that future dialogue with the Town of South Bruce Peninsula will be productive in protecting the endangered piping plover.

About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.