Are the Regulatory Framework and Industry Practices in Land Development in the GTA Facilitating the Spread of an Invasive Introduced Ant Myrmica Rubra (European Fire Ant)?

Invasive Introduced Species (IIS) are characterized by their ability to colonize, reproduce, and spread in disturbed areas and inhospitable conditions. The environmental effects that are commonly produced during construction activity create those specific conditions, as well as, environmental effects that may affect the survivorship and fitness level of native species. Additionally, development processes generate and spread large quantities of soil within a wide reaching geographic range, as well as, move landscaping, building materials, and human traffic all of which potentially carry and spread IIS. In this paper we will demonstrate that the regulatory environment addressing Invasive Species, Soil Management, and Land Development in Ontario provides an inadequate framework for preventing a wide-scale infestation of the introduced invasive ant in Canada Myrmica Rubra (European Fire Ant) which is known to be transferred through soil movement.