Five former chairs of a committee advising the federal government on endangered wildlife have penned an open letter expressing worries about proposed amendments to the Species At Risk Act. They caution that these changes may result in the deliberate extinction of endangered species in Canada. Over 600 species are currently protected under the legislation, and the potential modifications could undermine the act’s effectiveness, as stated in a recent press release from the scientists.
The group, comprised of ex-chairs of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), dispatched the letter to the government last month. COSEWIC is an independent panel responsible for evaluating species at risk of extinction and recommending their inclusion in endangered species legislation.
The scientists chose to make the letter public to prevent Canadians from inadvertently contributing to the intentional disappearance of Canadian wildlife species. This move coincides with the government’s consideration of significant alterations to environmental regulations, including the Species At Risk Act, designed to expedite the approval and construction of major projects.
In recent months, two federal discussion papers have proposed the pre-approval of major projects without review and the exemption of certain projects from the “jeopardy test” mandated by the law if they serve the national interest. This initiative has been heavily criticized by David Green, a former COSEWIC chair and biologist at McGill University, who views it as a severe blow to the current legislation’s protective measures.
The jeopardy tests, which prevent projects that could harm species listed under the act and their critical habitats from moving forward if they jeopardize survival, are deemed crucial for the safeguarding of endangered species. The proposed amendments would grant the government the authority to establish “federal economic zones” for pre-approving industrial development and to greenlight pipelines without prior route assessments or federal impact evaluations.
The letter specifically references a new West Coast oil pipeline under review as a project of national interest. This pipeline, if approved, could pose a significant threat to multiple species protected under the act, such as the southern resident killer whale and Chinook salmon, both of which inhabit the Salish Sea, where the pipeline would terminate.
The scientists warn that endorsing the West Coast pipeline could have dire consequences for the imperiled killer whale population, potentially leading to their decimation due to increased tanker traffic noise and habitat destruction. The letter questions whether Canadians are willing to jeopardize the unique killer whale population for the sake of another oil pipeline.
Expressing astonishment, David Green criticized the Liberal government for proposing these changes, considering the historical significance of the Species At Risk Act. Kathryn Harrison, a UBC professor specializing in climate and energy politics, views the amendments as setting an unprecedented precedent by granting the government extensive authority to bypass existing laws.
As of now, the scientists are awaiting a response from the government regarding their letter. The government, on its part, has emphasized its commitment to species conservation while justifying the proposed changes as necessary to boost the economy and reduce reliance on the U.S. market amid ongoing trade tensions.
Despite the lack of a formal government response, the Privy Council Office reiterated the government’s dedication to species conservation under the Species At Risk Act. The government plans to release a report summarizing feedback from Canadians before the end of summer, with a formal legislation expected post-Parliament’s resumption in September. Green urges the government to reconsider, emphasizing the irreversible consequences of eliminating species from Canada.