Evidence of meeting #24 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sarac.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Thank you very much. Your time has expired.
We do have about ten minutes left, so we're going to go to our third round, but we're going to do it in about two and a half to three minutes for those who want to ask questions. We'll entertain at least four questions, one from each political party. I ask witnesses to keep their comments very succinct and brief.
Mr. Trudeau.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Thank you.
I'd like to follow up on DFO and the species at risk. I will take the example of the orca specifically. Was the Fisheries Act protecting the orca and species at risk before SARA was implemented?
10:50 a.m.
David Suzuki Foundation, Species at Risk Advisory Committee
I think this might be outside of the purview of the SARAC committee. I think a number of our organizations have initiated legal challenges about the orca, and when we're here as individual environmental organizations, we'd be happy to talk about that.
10:50 a.m.
Liberal
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Fair enough.
I'll pass my time on to my colleagues so they can continue.
10:50 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to follow up on this issue of the safety net and the issue raised by Mr. Scarpaleggia. I'm aware that section 38 provides very clearly that action is to be taken regardless of the fact that we may not have “full scientific certainty”. We recently witnessed what happened with the tiny cryptanthe, and I am pleased to say I've been involved in the field work on that. It's a tragedy that we haven't protected it. We've seen this also with the woodland caribou. I am wondering if you could comment on whether there is a greater priority on maintaining friendly federal-provincial relations than there is on actually exercising the power of the safety net.
The act also says that the government must, to the extent possible, consult the provinces, but it is not bound to follow what the provinces recommend.
10:50 a.m.
David Suzuki Foundation, Species at Risk Advisory Committee
I think, Ms. Duncan, that it's hard for us to interpret the motivations of the government. I think what we can say as a committee that's here to protect the species at risk is that in the case of the caribou, for example, their recovery strategy, which was supposed to include critical habitat identification, was due in 2007. Now it's delayed, and it's supposed to be released in 2011. I think one of the things that's implied in our act with regard to all these species for which critical habitat identification has been delayed or action planning has been delayed is that for the most part, the activities that have caused these species to decline in the first place are still occurring. So it is of tremendous concern that the activities are still happening while all of these recovery measures that are supposed to be implemented under the act are delayed.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Do you have anything else, Madam Duncan? You have a little bit of extra time.
10:50 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I just wanted to offer one comment and get your perspective. It's been suggested that it's far more cost-effective--and of course in this day and age, in this major recession, the departments of environment and fisheries will likely be cut back as well in the next budget--to protect the habitat of a threatened or endangered species in the first place than it is to rely on inefficient and costly recovery operations. I'm wondering if you would agree with that.
10:50 a.m.
Mining Association of Canada, Species at Risk Advisory Committee
I hope most of the committee members would probably agree with that.
10:50 a.m.
David Suzuki Foundation, Species at Risk Advisory Committee
There is a measure under the act for a species of special concern, so that before their critical habitat needs to be identified, you can plan to ensure that they don't get uplisted to being threatened or endangered.
10:50 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
What department is dealing with endangered marine species? I don't mean fisheries; I mean endangered mammals and other species. The Fisheries Act, of course, doesn't deal with marine mammals.
10:50 a.m.
Fisheries Council of Canada, Species at Risk Advisory Committee
It does.
10:50 a.m.
Fisheries Council of Canada, Species at Risk Advisory Committee
Exactly.
10:50 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Thank you very much.
To follow up on my questions regarding emergency listing, do you know of any case where an emergency listing has been requested?
10:50 a.m.
David Suzuki Foundation, Species at Risk Advisory Committee
We think an emergency listing was requested for the Cultus Lake and Sakinaw Lake species of sockeye salmon.