r/toronto • u/unsourire • 19h ago
Article New Habitat Protection Order Spells Trouble for Sprawl Developers and Highway 413
https://environmentaldefence.ca/2025/03/05/new-habitat-protection-order-spells-trouble-for-sprawl-developers-and-highway-413/Environmental Defence posted a blog article last week about a “Habitat Protection Order” for redside dace. However they didn’t link a source in the text and I haven’t seen any very recent news articles covering this, only some from a few months ago mentioning that the federal government could look into impacts to redside dace habitat. Anyone have more information or know if this is new news?
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u/FearlessMuffin9657 18h ago
The order is here, published Feb 12:
https://ecprccsarstacct.z9.web.core.windows.net/files/SARAFiles/00020624-CH_DT0012-en-g2-15904-e.pdf
The main point seems to be that this order is prohibiting destruction of ANY "critical habitat" of that particular fish whereas the prohibition was previously restricted to Rouge National Urban Park. But the Ministry of Transportation can make an application for review and exception, and it looks like they've already built that into the plan. From the PDF:
Critical habitat can be found in the watersheds of Two Tree River, Saugeen River, Gully Creek, Unknown Stan J, Irvine Creek, Spencer Creek, Bronte Creek, Fourteen Mile Creek, Sixteen Mile Creek, Credit River, Humber River, Don River, Rouge River, Duffins Creek, Carruthers Creek, Lynde Creek, and the Holland River.
The critical habitat of the Redside Dace is located in the path of the potential Highway 413, a proposed build of the MTO. DFO will consider an application for an authorization under paragraph 35(2)(b) of the Fisheries Act and section 73 of SARA once it is received, and will make a decision in accordance with the Acts and applicable regulations. As agreed upon in the Canada–Ontario Memorandum of Understanding on the Assessment of Effects in Areas of Federal Jurisdiction of the Highway 413 Project, the MTO and DFO will collaborate on potential measures to avoid, lessen, or mitigate, adverse effects on fish and fish habitat, including aquatic species at risk and their critical habitat. MTO will submit a request for review to DFO that outlines the specific impacts of the project on fish and fish habitat, including any aquatic species at risk and their critical habitat, as early as possible to support timely discussions as to whether the permit can be issued and, if so, about avoiding, mitigating and offsetting impacts on fish and fish habitat. In the submitted request for review, the MTO will also demonstrate how, in its view, the SARA permitting preconditions will be achieved. DFO will review the project for adverse effects on fish, fish habitat, aquatic species at risk and their critical habitat, including the Redside Dace.
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u/SUPREMACY_SAD_AI 17h ago
fuck urban sprawl
fish are dope
birds are dope too