New and Improved! Endangered Species Bill
Posted by: Kathie Brosemer (kathie) on June 19, 2002 at 07:25:01
from the it's-about-time dept.
OTTAWA, June 11, 2002. Leaders with some of the country's largest environmental organizations say they are finally able to accept an endangered species law expected to be passed by the House of Commons later today thanks to 11th hour changes that strengthened the bill. But it's far from what they hoped for, and they will be looking for future opportunities to strengthen the bill. More, below.
Conservationists applaud last-minute changes to species bill, but say it's far from perfect.
"This bill gets a passing grade with the very thinnest of margins from the conservation community. But it is an important starting point that we can all hopefully build on," says Kate Smallwood, director, Endangered Species Program for Sierra Legal Defence Fund.
Conservation leaders, joined by some of Canada's leading scientists, were sharply critical of early drafts of the Species at Risk Act, as was an all-party committee of the House of Commons that recommended substantive changes to the bill. When the Committee's recommendations appeared in danger of not being adopted, several Liberal caucus members raised concerns forcing postponement of a final debate and vote on the bill.
"Thanks to Karen Kraft Sloan, Charles Caccia, Clifford Lincoln and other Liberal caucus members who prevailed on Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Environment Minister David Anderson, we have some stronger legal protection for endangered species than we otherwise would," says Elizabeth May, Sierra Club of Canada executive director.
"Thanks to changes to the bill we now have better legal protection for the habitat of endangered species on federal lands and waters," says Laura Telford, manager of the endangered species program for the Canadian Nature Federation. "Also, the critically important decision of who lists species as endangered now appears to be far less open to political interference, which is as it should be."
The overwhelming evidence is that protecting endangered species requires a strong commitment to protect the land and waters they inhabit. There are currently 402 species officially listed at risk in Canada.
"For the one third of endangered species that are found on federal lands or waters the prognosis is reasonably good," says Stephen Legault, Wildcanada.net executive director. "But for the other two thirds, the Species at Risk Act fails to deliver strong protections."
While the bill will pass the House of Commons later today, it still has a long way to go before the Senate debates it and passes it into law.
For more information contact: Kate Smallwood 250-847-2400, Elizabeth May 613-241-4611, Laura Telford 613-562-8208 ext. 299, and Stephen Legault 403-609-2509
Stephen Legault
Executive Director
Wildcanada.net
phone (403) 609-2509
fax (403) 609-2998
Box 8145, Canmore, Alberta
Canada, T1W 2T9
wildcanada.net
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