Ontario’s minister of natural resources faces endangered species charges

The new natural resources minister of Ontario is facing a hearing to determine whether he harmed a threatened turtle species when he was the mayor of Bracebridge.

The charges brought in a private prosecution allege that Graydon Smith and the Town of Bracebridge harmed Blanding’s turtles and posed danger to the habitat of the at-risk species in June and August 2021.

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

Smith was elected as a Progressive Conservative in the provincial election earlier this month and was sworn in as natural resources and forestry minister in Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet last week.

A government press secretary for Smith confirmed that a private citizen accused him of violating the Endangered Species Act.

But he said the municipality could provide a better comment regarding road work done around the endangered turtle habitat.