The Reform party environment critic is warning federal Liberals that any attempt to enforce endangered species legislation with criminal sanctions risks alienating the land-owning farmers whose co-operation the government wants.
“The legislation should not include criminal sanctions,” said Lethbridge, Alta., member of Parliament Rick Casson.
“If it turns out it is needed later, legislation can always be amended, but he should start (by) assuming the co-operative approach will work.”
Environment minister David Anderson last week said he wants to unveil his endangered species legislation in December.
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It is expected to cover federal, provincial and private lands and focus on a co-operative approach. Financial compensation would be offered to landowners whose income is severely affected by restrictions on the use of their land because of an endangered species site.
However, after meeting last week with provincial ministers responsible for wildlife, Anderson said he also wants criminal sanctions in the bill as a back up if voluntary implementation fails.
And that had Casson uneasy.
He said environmentalists, landowners and industry have worked hard during the past several years to form a consensus for an endangered species regime that everyone could support.
Talk of criminal sanctions could blow that consensus apart, Casson said.
“I’m afraid that would be the hot topic out here and focus on it would over-ride attention on the main issue, endangered species.”
He said the Reform party supports the principle of endangered species legislation.
“We all know something needs to be done but I think there will be suspicion created if the law contains criminal sanctions,” he said.
“They may say they support voluntary and co-operative, but if it is in the law, someone will want to use it. It will overhang the issue, making it more command and control than co-operative.”
