Ontario Introduces Stand-Alone Invasive Species Law

Ottawa, Ontario – Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti addressed reporters in regards to the first-ever stand-alone invasive species act in the nation. He stated that with the Asian carp already infesting certain rivers and lakes in the neighboring United States, Ontario cannot proactively combat the threat of invasive species under current law. This is what makes the proposed invasive species legislation so vital. It is most certainly true that when dealing with the threat of the Asian carp, “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”

The Asian carp is a fast breeding fish with a voracious appetite for plankton. In areas where is enters, the fish will consume the plankton population to the detriment of the rest of the ecosystem dependent on it. With the threat literally at Ontario’s border, the time to act is now.

Minister Orazietti stated that Ontario already wastes tens of millions of dollars annually fighting off the threat of the ash borer beetle, the round goby, the longhorn beetle, and the European common reed. The new law will allow Ontario to intervene proactively to prevent invasive species from entering the province. It will also give the province the tools and means to adapt to these economic & ecological threats.

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Source:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/02/26/ontario_introduces_canadas_first_invasive_species_law.html