Canada's Minister of the Environment Introduces Species at Risk Legislation

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Original Press Releases on The Green Lane (Environment Canada), 10 April, 2000 and
  The Green Lane (Environment Canada), 11 April, 2000

On April 11, 2000, David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, introduced new legislation in Parliment to protect species at risk in Canada.

The following press release was made available by Environment Canada on 11 April, 2000:

Government of Canada tables Species at risk Act to protect wildlife from extinction

Ottawa, April 11, 2000 - Environment Minister David Anderson today introduced legislation in the House of Commons that will protect endangered Canadian wildlife from extinction. The objective of the legislation is to help birds, fish, mammals, plants and insects at risk of extinction to recover to sustainable levels. The legislation represents a balanced, practical approach for the protection of species and their habitats.

The proposed Species at Risk Act (SARA) provides the authority to prohibit the destruction of endangered or threatened species and their critical habitat on all lands in Canada. The Act also provides the emergency authority to list species in imminent danger.

"Canadians want all species at risk protected. By combining incentives with strong legal protections and the ability of the federal government to act alone when necessary, the Government of Canada is creating a workable species protection system that will achieve concrete results," said Minister Anderson. This Act complements the roles of the provinces and territories, and involves landowners, land users, Aboriginal peoples, fishing interests and citizens in the recovery process.

The proposed legislation covers all wildlife species listed as being at risk and their critical habitats. The Act will, for the first time, legally recognize the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and provide for rigorous, independent and public scientific assessments. The Minister must report annually to Parliament in response to COSEWIC's scientific assessments as well as federal activities to recover species.

"Our first line of defense will be to protect habitat through conservation and voluntary measures. We have tough choices to make to protect endangered species and we will maximize success by working together," said Minister Anderson. "But where other methods fail, the federal government will step in with prohibitions on the destruction of critical habitat on federal, provincial and private lands and prohibitions on the killing of endangered and threatened species."

Other features include using the best available scientific, Aboriginal traditional and community knowledge for the design of recovery planning for species listed as endangered and threatened, as well as incentives for conservation measures and compensation provisions.

Minister Anderson noted that the legislation is part of a comprehensive approach to species at risk. "Our species at risk strategy relies on three important elements to protect those now at risk and prevent others from being threatened," he said. "These elements are the Species at Risk Act I have tabled today, the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk endorsed by provinces and territories, and effective stewardship programs."

Budget 2000 contained a Government of Canada commitment of $90 million over three years, and stabilized funding at $45 million in subsequent years for the national strategy on species at risk. Budget 2000 made it easier for Canadians to donate ecologically sensitive lands and easements by reducing the capital gains arising from such donations.

"Today, we have introduced a balanced and effective piece of legislation," said Minister Anderson. "With the Species at Risk Act, we are building on Canada's heritage of stewardship and protecting our wildlife for future generations."

For links to related documents, visit the Environment Canada web page.