Canada’s long awaited species-at-risk legislation becomes law June 1.
The new endangered species act is meant to be a co-operative effort among landowners, resource users and government rather than a punitive legislation, said federal environment David Anderson as he explained the act at a western grasslands conference held in Calgary.
The intent is to save species before their situation becomes acute.
“We want to ensure there is a rescue effort for biodiversity,” Anderson said.
The strategy emphasizes co-operation among the federal, provincial and territorial governments, stewardship and incentives for landowners. The departments of environment, fisheries and parks will oversee the act.
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Anderson said the new act is landowner-friendly rather than laden with heavy penalties. However, he admitted that over the seven year gestation of the act, some groups complained it did not go far enough and so heavier penalties are listed.
“What I would like to have is legislation where you would never have to use the prohibitions because everybody understands the value of the co-operative approach,” Anderson told reporters.
A draft habitat policy will be released for public comment shortly.
Allen Patkau, who ranches near Saskatoon and is involved in grasslands conservation in Saskatchewan said the act is a feel-good piece of legislation.
“This is probably as good as it is going to get,” he said in an interview at the conference.
He wants more detail of how compensation might be applied, as well as a better sense of what the government means by co-operation among the landowners.
“Change is always scary,” he said.
Dave Duncan of the Canadian Wildlife Service with Environment Canada said the intent is to protect species and their habitat through stewardship and conservation.
“The habitat stewardship program is a co-operative program which can match dollars with other agencies,” he said.
Third-party conservation agencies in Western Canada receive about $2 million to protect habitat and wildlife. These include projects through the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Alberta Conservation Association and Fish and Game Association.
The act applies to all aquatic species, migratory birds and species on federal lands. Most provinces have protective legislation, but where acts are inadequate or do not exist, the federal legislation applies.
The specific purpose of the act is to recover endangered species and to prevent wildlife species from be-coming extinct or extirpated, which means driven from their traditional habitat.
The act includes a recovery strategy with a timeline to rebuild species. Those directly affected will be contacted and compensation is available if people have experienced considerable inconvenience in preserving habitat.
Under the new law, it is an offence to knowingly harm or capture endangered, threatened or extirpated species. No species or parts may be bought, sold or collected. No habitat may be destroyed.
There continues to be provisions in the act for any citizen to report suspected violations to the government.
For less serious offences, a corporation could be fined up to $300,000 and an individual could be fined up to $50,000 or receive a prison term of up to one year for each charge.
Indictable offences could result in corporations fined $1 million for each offence and individuals receiving up to $250,000 in fines or a prison term of up to five years.
