Ontario cabinet minister faces hearing on private endangered species charges | The Canadian News

Ontario’s new natural resources minister faces a hearing into whether he harmed an endangered turtle species when he was mayor of a small town.

The charges laid by the private prosecution allege that Graydon Smith and the town of Bracebridge, where Smith served as mayor, harmed Blanding’s turtles in addition to posing a danger to the endangered species’ habitat in June and August 2021.

A justice of the peace has signed off on charges of violating the Endangered Species Act and last week set a Sept. 21 hearing date on the matter. The charges have not yet been proven in court.

Smith was elected as a Progressive Conservative in the provincial election earlier this month and was sworn in as Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet last week.

A Smith government press secretary confirmed that he was accused by a private citizen of violating the Endangered Species Act.

But he said the municipality was in a better position to comment on the case, which concerns road work done around the endangered turtle’s habitat.

“Council listened to the concerns raised and sought mitigation measures before moving forward with the project,” Curtis Lindsay said in an e-mail.

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“Since this is a decision made by the council, the borough is in a better position to provide any further comment.”

A lawyer for the town of Bracebridge said she is confident the charges will be dismissed.

Sarah Hahn also shared a letter sent by the city’s chief administrative officer in September 2021 to a citizen who was concerned about road work disturbing turtle habitat.

The letter explained how the city took habitat into account by posting turtle crossing signs and modifying operations to minimize damage.

“The fact is, and the evidence will show, that the City acted diligently and appropriately in performing the necessary road work in the vicinity of the turtle habitat,” Sarah Hahn said in an emailed statement. “It is unfortunate that the Town Council’s resources must now be used to respond to these unfounded allegations.”

Smith won his seat in Parry Sound-Muskoka by a margin of just over 2,000 votes, beating Green Party candidate Matt Richter.

Green Party leader Mike Schreiner said the allegations against Smith are revealing of the government’s priorities.

“It certainly shows the lack of concern that the premier and the caucus have, that they would appoint a minister who is not fulfilling his own ministry,” he said.