A group of five former chairs from a committee advising the federal government on endangered wildlife has penned an open letter expressing apprehensions about proposed modifications to the Species At Risk Act. They believe these changes could potentially lead to the deliberate extinction of endangered species in Canada. The press release, authored by these scientists, warns that the amendments under consideration by the government would undermine the significance of the act and the safeguard it offers to wildlife.
The individuals, who previously served as chairs of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), delivered the letter to federal authorities last month. COSEWIC is an autonomous advisory body that evaluates species at risk of extinction and recommends their inclusion in endangered species legislation.
The scientists chose to make their concerns public to prevent Canadians from inadvertently contributing to the deliberate extinction of Canadian wildlife species. The letter emerges as the government contemplates broad changes to environmental regulations, including the Species At Risk Act, aiming to expedite the approval and construction of major projects.
In recent federal discussion papers released in May, proposals were made to greenlight major projects before review and exempt certain projects from the “jeopardy test” mandated by law if they are deemed to serve national interests. These jeopardy tests prevent the government from sanctioning ventures that could harm species listed under the act and their essential habitats, potentially jeopardizing their survival. Notably, these tests are deemed crucial for the protection of endangered species.
The suggested alterations would grant the government the power to establish “federal economic zones” where industrial development could receive pre-approval. Additionally, the cabinet would be empowered to greenlight pipelines before route establishment and exempt them from federal impact assessments.
Bill C-5 currently allows expedited processing for projects considered to be in the national interest, including environmental evaluations. The letter specifically references a proposed West Coast oil pipeline, which is being evaluated as a project of national significance. This pipeline is projected to transport approximately one million barrels of crude oil daily over around 1,250 kilometers, utilizing a corridor similar to that of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline, as outlined by the Alberta government.
The construction of this pipeline could have severe repercussions on several species listed under the act, such as the southern resident killer whale and the Chinook salmon, the primary food source for the whales. Both species and their critical habitats are found in the Salish Sea, a network of coastal waterways in southern British Columbia, where the proposed pipeline would terminate.
The scientists caution that the proposed West Coast pipeline, if approved in the national interest, could pose a significant threat to the imperiled killer whale population, both directly through increased tanker traffic noise and indirectly through habitat destruction crucial for the whales’ primary prey. The letter raises the poignant question of whether Canadians are willing to risk the unique killer whale population for the sake of another oil pipeline.
Currently, there are only 75 southern resident killer whales left in the world.
David Green, a biologist and professor emeritus at McGill University and one of the former COSEWIC chairs involved in drafting the letter, expressed astonishment at the Liberal government’s proposed changes. Kathryn Harrison, a UBC professor specializing in climate and energy politics, believes that the government, through Bill C-5 and other potential modifications, is setting an unprecedented precedent that grants significant authority to the government in terms of environmental regulations.
The government has not responded to the scientists’ letter as of the time of this report’s publication. The Privy Council Office reiterated the government’s commitment to species conservation and recovery under the Species at Risk Act. The government justifies the potential changes by highlighting the necessity to expedite projects that enhance the economy and reduce dependence on the U.S. market amid the ongoing trade tensions.
While the government extended the public engagement period following criticisms from First Nations and environmental organizations, formal legislation is expected after Parliament reconvenes in September. Green warns the government to reconsider its stance, emphasizing that once species are eliminated from Canada, they cannot be restored.