7 replies to this topic

[Terran]

Hey Gang,

This article appears in this mornings Chronicle Herald.


Fisheries Act to change
April 25, 2012 - 5:18am By PAUL McLEOD Ottawa Bureau

Opposition parties say sweep­ing changes to fisheries laws will allow the government to fast-track new pipelines without environmental checks.

The Conservative govern­ment said Tuesday it will change its entire approach to fishery laws.

All fish habitats are given the same protection. Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield said he will change the Fisheries Act to separate small, low-risk waterways like ditches and flooded fields from important bodies of water.

Ashfield said the current rules cause bizarre situations where municipalities, farmers and homeowners have had to undergo environmental as­sessments to make routine changes to their property.

“The current fisheries policy goes well beyond what is necessary to protect fish and fish habitat," Ashfield said in the House of Com­mons.

“The changes I announced earlier today will move the current regime from an indis­criminate one that treats farmers’ fields and drainage ditches the same as major projects to one that actually protects Canada’s fisheries from real threats."

Ashfield said the details of the changes will be ironed out in the upcoming months.

But opposition parties say the Conservatives are using the examples of ditches and farms as a smokescreen to clear the way for oil develop­ments.

pmcleod@herald.ca

I quote, Minister Ashfield, from a media release regarding the 2010 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Canada. (http://www.dfo-mpo.g...hq-ac10-eng.htm)

“Recreational fishing not only brings friends and family together to enjoy the great outdoors, it also bolsters our economy by attracting tourists and creating jobs” said Minister Ashfield. “We will conserve and protect these fish and their habitat to help ensure this fishery continues to benefit Canadians for years to come.”

“Our government recognizes the contribution local fisheries make to the Canadian economy, especially in rural areas,” added Minister Ashfield. “We will continue to work with our partners to protect Canada’s valuable and natural oceans, lakes, and rivers for future generations.”


I hope as these changes are considered, the Minister will recall these statements and, "...continue to work with our partners to protect Canada’s valuable and natural oceans, lakes, and rivers for future generations.”

However, there seems to be a conflict developing between the protection of our natural oceans, lakes and rivers - and the need to accomodate industries that take from our resources, leave when they've taken their fill and cause irreparable harm to the environment in the process.

Will be interesting to see which takes priority.

Terran

[AJWD]

Let's be honest...we all know what will take priority. We refuse to kill industries in nova scotia that should have died years ago to save a few jobs, and we do irreparable to our natural resources in the process. Now these new rules pave a way for government to do the same thing it had always done, just ensuring it has less resistance on the path.

[scottw]

Terran, on 25 April 2012 - 07:51 AM, said:

All fish habitats are given the same protection. Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield said he will change the Fisheries Act to separate small, low-risk waterways like ditches and flooded fields from important bodies of water.

Ashfield said the current rules cause bizarre situations where municipalities, farmers and homeowners have had to undergo environmental as­sessments to make routine changes to their property.

I will come under fire for this, but as someone that's gotten tangled up in the above noted scenario, I would welcome some common sense changes.

[Perry]

No, I believe that is a fair comment. It will depend upon some commen sense in implimentation as you suggest.

[Terran]

Hey Folks,

For anyone interested in how our Government is going to handle the changes to Environmental protections, just take a look at this article from the Chronicle Herald (Apr. 27, 2012).

Environment Changes Mired in Big Bill - http://thechronicleh...red-in-big-bill

It would appear that these changes are not something the Government wishes there to be an upfront debate about. Instead, they are to be buried in an Omnibus Bill that will hopefully be weaseled through legislation without the ability of opposition to target and debate the issues.

Sounds like the kind of honest, concerned and rational legislation we have come to expect.

It will be interesting to see what kind of "Common Sense" comes out in this legislation. God help us.

Terran

[Terran]

Anglers,

Here is a little more on the "Gutting" of the Fisheries Act. This story from the Chronicle Herald (Apr. 27, 2012).


Critics assail Conservatives for 'gutting' fisheries protections
April 26, 2012 - 1:21pm By PAUL McLEOD Ottawa Bureau

Bill removes references to fish habitat
UPDATED 8:41 p.m.

The Conservative government is gutting environmental regulations and killing the single strongest environment law, say critics ranging from opposition parties to former government ministers.

The Budget Implementation Act unveiled Thursday changes many environmental laws, but removing protection for fish habitats is drawing the most fire.

Section 35 of the Fisheries Act requires an environmental review before someone can alter or destroy a body of water that is vital to the life cycle of fish.

The Conservative bill kills the reference to habitat and instead places protection on fish that are part of a commercial, recreational or aboriginal fishery.

“It’s much more than a minor definitional change,” said Scott Parsons, who oversaw protection of fish habitat for the federal government in the 1990s.

“Basically, they’re gutting the Fisheries Act. They’re gutting the most powerful piece of environmental legislation in Canada. In my opinion, it’s a regressive move, a move back to the Stone Age of fish habitat management.”

Parsons worked for the government for 35 years before retiring in 2002. He oversaw fish habitat as Fisheries and Oceans assistant deputy minister from 1994 to 1999.

He said he quickly learned that environmental groups considered Section 35 the most crucial piece of environmental legislation in the country.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May echoed that sentiment Thursday.

“The fish habitat protections in the Fisheries Act have often been the only thing that saves the whole forest, that protects the whole ecosystem,” said May.

But the federal government says the law goes too far. Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield said it makes no sense to extend a flooded drainage ditch the same protection as the Great Lakes.

Ashfield said under the current laws, property owners have had to seek Fisheries Department approval before building structures to protect their property from erosion.

“We’re responsible for fish and fish habitat and we’ll continue to do that. This in no way impacts or weakens that,” he said in an interview.

Ashfield said the changes will allow the department to focus on real threats like invasive species.

He said the oil industry did not lobby for the change to be made. Opposition parties have alleged the government is removing Section 35 to fast-track new pipeline developments.

“This has been the dream of the oil industry forever,” said NDP House Leader Nathan Cullen, “to simply take out the one piece of the Fisheries Act that provided environmental protection across the board.”

Two Mulroney-era Progressive Conservative Fisheries Ministers, John Fraser and Tom Siddon, have also spoken out about changing the Fisheries Act. They were responding to a draft released last month that showed Section 35 would be repealed, although the draft was not identical to the bill released Thursday.

Other groups expressed support for changing the Fisheries Act, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Ducks Unlimited Canada.

“The changes will make it faster and less expensive for local governments to perform routine public services from clearing ditches to repairing storm water systems,” said municipalities federation president Berry Vrbanovic.

Ashfields’ staff say the minister has received hundreds of complaints from municipalities and landowners about the law.

Former Liberal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan said the law made some people unhappy during his time as minister, but those were minor issues that could be handled on an individual basis. He said changing Section 35 gives the fisheries minister too much power to decide what does and does not count as fish habitat.

(pmcleod@herald.ca)

Think it speaks for itself.

Terran

[Terran]

Hey Anglers,

Here are a couple more tidbits from the Chronicle Herald on the Governments systematic destruction of our environment. Thought some may be interested.

Critics slam Feds' environment process - http://thechronicleh...ronment-process

Ottawa cuts water surveillance despite warnings - http://thechronicleh...espite-warnings

Sadly, I'm sure there will be more to come.

Terran

[Terran]

For those interested,

Here's another sickening report on our government's "Declaring war on the Environment"

Environment AG has Budget Concerns - http://thechronicleh...budget-concerns

Terran