Canada rejects scientists’ emergency call to protect endangered trout on oil pipeline path – “They are mismanaging our fish right into extinction”
By Stephanie Wood
18 July 2019
(National Observer) – The federal government has turned down an emergency recommendation from scientists to use a federal law to protect endangered trout that live along the path of the existing Trans Mountain oil pipeline and its expansion project.
The decision — described by one First Nations chief, Lee Spahan from the Coldwater Indian Band, as “disrespectful” — comes more than a year after scientists first recommended that Canada should list both the Thompson and Chilcotin steelhead trout under the Species At Risk Act.
The federal legislation allows federal cabinet ministers to make a final decision in response to the scientific advice.
It’s basically saying the Species At Risk Act is worthless. If that is true for this species, should it not be true for all species that they have on that list?
Adam Olsen, Green party MLA for Saanich North and the Islands
In this case, it would have required stricter protections of critical habitat that could challenge the potentially adverse effects of construction or an oil spill from the west coast Trans Mountain project. […]
Chief Spahan of Coldwater Indian Band disagreed, calling the decision “disappointing,” “frustrating” and “disrespectful.”
“They [DFO] are mismanaging our fish right into extinction,” he said. “They have to open their eyes and start protecting the water and the fish because without water, the fish can’t survive.” […]
Green party MLA for Saanich North and the Islands Adam Olsen, or SȾHENEP, said the idea the federal government can better protect steelhead without using the Species At Risk Act is “laughable.”
“It’s basically saying the Species At Risk Act is worthless,” he said. “If that is true for this species, should it not be true for all species that they have on that list?” [more]
Canada rejects scientists’ emergency call to protect endangered trout on Trans Mountain’s path
