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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Hi folks</font></font></div><div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><br></font></font></div><div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">If you want to write a letter re: Hidden Valley, below are the related policies you can relay re: the need to protect ENDANGERED Jefferson Salamanders.</font></font></div><div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><br></font></font></div><div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Lulu </font></font><br><br></div><div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in">____________________________________________________________________________</div><div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font
size="2"><br></font></font></div><div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Louisette
Lanteigne</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">700
Star Flower Ave.</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Waterloo
Ontario<br>N2V 2L2</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">butterflybluelu@rogers.com</font></font></div>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><b>Comments
re: The need to protect Hidden Valley's Endangered Jefferson
Salamanders</b></font></font></div>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Dear
Kitchener Council Members, </font></font>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">I
support the use of the Environmental Funds towards acquiring the
total area of Hidden Valley as an ESPA for the sake of protecting the
Endangered Jefferson Salamander. The status of the salamanders at
the federal level is endangered as recognized by the Committee on the
Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada on November 2010. This fact
can be viewed online here: </font></font>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct1/searchdetail_e.cfm?id=642&StartRow=291&boxStatus=All&boxTaxonomic=All&location=All&change=All&board=All&commonName=&scienceName=&returnFlag=0&Page=30"><font size="2">http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct1/searchdetail_e.cfm?id=642&StartRow=291&boxStatus=All&boxTaxonomic=All&location=All&change=All&board=All&commonName=&scienceName=&returnFlag=0&Page=30</font></a></u></span></font></div>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">The
Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act recognizes that the
protective status with the highest level of constraints shall
prevail. </font></font>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">The
population of Jefferson Salamanders found in Hidden Valley has been
confirmed as Canada's highest remaining population as confirmed to me
by Dr. Jim Bogart via personal communications. </font></font>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Provisions
exist to protect the habitat of threatened species in the provincial
Policy Statement 2005:</font></font></div>
<h4 lang="en-CA" class="western"><font color="#800000"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><b>2.1
Natural Heritage</b></font></font></font></h4>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">2.1.1 Natural
features and areas shall be protected for the long term.</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">2.1.2 The
diversity and connectivity of natural features in an area, and the
long-term ecological function and biodiversity of natural
heritage systems, should be maintained, restored or, where possible,
improved, recognizing linkages between and among natural
heritage features and areas, surface water
features and ground water
features. <br><br>2.1.3 Development and site
alteration shall not be permitted in:</font></font></div>
<ol>
<li><div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">significant habitat
of endangered species and threatened species;</font></font></div>
</li><li><div><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">significant
wetlands in Ecoregions 5E, 6E and 7E</span></font></font><font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1485.aspx"><font size="2">1</font></a></u></span></font><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">;
and</span></font></font></div>
</li><li><div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">significant
coastal wetlands.</font></font></div>
</li></ol>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">2.1.4 Development
and site alteration shall not be permitted in:</font></font></div>
<ol>
<li><div><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">significant
wetlands in the Canadian Shield north of Ecoregions 5E, 6E and
7E</span></font></font><font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1485.aspx"><font size="2">1</font></a></u></span></font><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">;</span></font></font></div>
</li><li><div><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">significant
woodlands south and east of the Canadian Shield</span></font></font><font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1485.aspx"><font size="2">2</font></a></u></span></font><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA"> ;</span></font></font></div>
</li><li><div><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">significant
valley lands south and east of the Canadian Shield</span></font></font><font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1485.aspx"><font size="2">2</font></a></u></span></font><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">;</span></font></font></div>
</li><li><div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">significant
wildlife habitat; and</font></font></div>
</li><li><div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">significant
areas of natural and scientific interest</font></font></div>
</li></ol>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">unless
it has been demonstrated that there will be no negative
impacts on the natural features or their ecological functions.</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">2.1.5 Development and site
alteration shall not be permitted in fish habitat except
in accordance with provincial and federal requirements.</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">2.1.6 Development and site
alteration shall not be permitted on adjacent lands to
the natural heritage features and areas identified in
policies 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and</font></font></div>
<ol start="4">
<li><div lang="en-CA"><font face="Verdana, sans-serif"><font size="2">unless
the ecological function of the adjacent lands has
been evaluated and it has been demonstrated that there will be
no negative impacts on the natural features or on
their ecological functions.</font></font></div>
</li></ol>
<dl>
<dt lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0.08in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Site
alteration:</font></font></dt><dd lang="en-CA">
<font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">means activities, such
as grading, excavation and the placement of fill that would change
the landform and natural vegetative characteristics of a site. </font></font></dd><dd lang="en-CA">
<br>
</dd></dl>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in">
<font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">When
it comes to the Endangered Species Act 2007 the most current law
</span></font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA"><u>always</u></span></font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">
applies. </span></font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">This
provincial law cannot be "grandfathered" to an older, less
protective version. The logic for this is due to the fact that the
government views any threats to existing threatened or endangered
species and their habitats as a current threat so current law stands.
This information was confirmed to me by Senior MNR policy adviser
Gail Jackson on October 6, 2011 as per our telephone conversation.</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">The
Endangered Species Act protects threatened and endangered species
as well as their habitats. The definition of Jefferson
Salamander habitat in Ontario according to the Endangered Species Act
as consolidated on July 1 2011 states: </font></font></div>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><b>Jefferson
salamander habitat</b></font></font></div>
<div><a name="P594_72490"></a><font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/french/elaws_regs_080242_f.htm"><font size="2">28.</font></a></u></span></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA"><b> </b></span></font></font><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">For
the purpose of clause (a) of the definition of "habitat" in
subsection 2 (1) of the Act, the following areas are prescribed as
the habitat of the Jefferson salamander:</span></font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">1. In the
City of Hamilton, the counties of Brant, Dufferin, Elgin, Grey,
Haldimand, Norfolk and Wellington and the regional municipalities of
Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York,</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">i. a
wetland, pond or vernal or other temporary pool that is being used by
a Jefferson salamander or Jefferson dominated polyploid or was used
by a Jefferson salamander or Jefferson dominated polyploid at any
time during the previous five years,</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">ii. an
area that is within 300 metres of a wetland, pond or vernal or other
temporary pool described in subparagraph i and that provides suitable
foraging, dispersal, migration or hibernation conditions for
Jefferson salamanders or Jefferson dominated polyploids,</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">iii. a
wetland, pond or vernal or other temporary pool that,</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">A. would
provide suitable breeding conditions for Jefferson salamanders or
Jefferson dominated polyploids,</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">B. is
within one kilometre of an area described in subparagraph i, and</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">C. is
connected to the area described in subparagraph i by an area
described in subparagraph iv, and</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">iv. an
area that provides suitable conditions for Jefferson salamanders or
Jefferson dominated polyploids to disperse and is within one
kilometre of an area described in subparagraph i. O. Reg.
436/09, s. 1.</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">If
the City, Region or developers encroach upon habitat areas during
construction, in a manner that will harm disturb or kill threatened
or endangered species, they must by law, make a Ministry request to
ask permission to do so. This means the utilization of the Endangered
Species Act section 17 2 c) to request permission. No land
augmentations in the protected area can take place without this
permit. That is how the law is designed. </font></font>
</div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">The
law demands that there must be a NET BENEFIT for the species. If one
is killed, they must be replaced by two or more live specimens per
kill and they must expand on the delineated protected habitat area to
assure the improved survival rates of the remaining specimens in
the area. The provincial and federal government are bound by
international treaties to meet their obligations to protect
biodiversity and this provincial law is to assure that conservation
efforts are reasonably met.</font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><a name="yiv1075419549yui_3_2_0_21_13196480258751"></a>
<font face="Arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">The process to secure a
kill permit must pass through several review agencies and Gail
Jackson is one of the signing officers for this process. She states
the application can take up to 7 years before a permit is issued. It
must be signed three times by various review agencies including
MNR staff, the deputy minister, the MNR ministers and others.
Prior to the issuance of permit the request be posted on the
Environmental Bill of Rights Registry for public comment. ALL
alternative designs submitted by city planners, developers AND the
public can be reviewed at this phase and the decision that best
balances needs of the threatened/endangered species and planning
needs can be implemented. If there is no reasonable way to
secure a net benefit of the species, the request will be denied. </font></font></div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
</div>
<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Based
on the data provided in this document, it is reasonable to state the
protection and preservation of the total area of Hidden Valley would
represent good planning as supported by Provincial Policy Statement
and the province of Ontario. To protect Hidden Valley would allow
Canada to comply with it's commitment to the Convention on Biological
Diversity. </font></font>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="2"><span lang="en-CA">The
Jefferson Salamander only exists in approximately 30 sites in Canada.
</span></font></font><font color="#000080"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&id=154"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&id=154</font></font></a></u></span></font></div>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Waterloo
Region is one of the most northern areas of distribution and with
climate change, the Hidden Valley population has the greatest chance
of survival due to the cooler temperatures and the nature of the
unique microclimate that allows this species to thrive. The trees,
moss and vegetation and sediment composition all play a key roll in
maintaining the appropriate temperature and moisture levels required
by this species. If we augment the area by removing trees or exposing
soil to sun it will have devastating impacts on this population.
Please protect this species for the long term. </font></font>
</div>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Thank
you kindly for your time.</font></font></div>
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<div lang="en-CA" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="2">Louisette
Lanteigne</font></font></div>
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