First of all, I think it's imperative that we have clear targets.
I guess I would like to clarify what I mean by a target. I heard about Parks Canada suggesting that there are conservation strategies, priorities, etc. That is absolutely correct, and management plans include protecting the health of the ecosystem, to give you an example, but the “health of an ecosystem” is a bit vague. What we need to do is say that for this particular ecosystem, health means this. It means we have so many of these animals, or we have so many new animals coming in, or so many new plants. That's the target that we can then go back to measure every year or every five years or however frequently we need to do it.
The conservation priority is of a broader character than a target. The target does not need to be legislated, because it will be specific to the particular reserve, protected area, or whatever you want to call it. What needs to be legislated, I think, is that there be a measurable target, not what the target is for every single one, because they will vary.