OFA provided comments to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on the proposed government response statement for Black Ash under the Endangered Species Act, 2007. OFA is in favour of the proposed short- and long-term goals proposed in the response statement and supports policy and regulatory tools that balance protecting Black Ash and managing Emerald Ash Borer while considering the social and economic realities of Ontarians.

OFA reiterated its longstanding perspective that there is only one Ontario landscape; Recovery strategies and habitat regulations need to reflect that it is unsustainable to have a single-minded focus on species restoration that excludes all other factors.

OFA recommended that the focus of Black Ash recovery should be directed on identifying and developing trees resistant to Emerald Ash Borer, archiving and preserving genetic material, and investing in effect ways to manage Emerald Ash Borer.

OFA suggested improving data collection for Black Ash in more rural and northern areas of the province to increase knowledge and improve understanding of Black Ash and threats to its survival and recovery. Conducting an economic impact analysis on the effects of recovery actions on northern Ontario, especially where data gaps currently exist, would aid in this endeavour.