An update on two recent councillor motions that sparked community concerns over protecting endangered species and wetlands from development.

Councillor Mac Bain tells BayToday he’s going to vote in favour of reconsidering his own motions.

Bain says the revisions are necessary for different reasons.

First, the province is looking at getting consultation on species at risk legislation and that means his motion may not apply.

He’s hoping council support will lead to community consultation.

“If passed the staff could write a report to council and a submission could be presented to the province on the review of the Species At Risk Act,” Bain says.

The 2nd motion deals with moving the provincial significant wet lands boundary line back to pre 2005 levels to allow the city to make improvements to the watershed and provincially significant wetlands and to foster development also.

He says this would allow minimal development in a wetland, where it is demonstrated that there would be no negative impacts on the natural features or ecological functions of the Provincially Significant Wetland.

The motion of reconsideration was put forth at the last Council meeting by Councillor Mark King.

Filed under: City of North Bay