Opinion: Dismantling environmental laws isn't in Canada's national interest

The federal government's proposal to facilitate major projects means even those that would drive extinction could occur, likely dooming the iconic southern resident killer whale, write Marie Auger-Méthé and Cole Burton. Photo by Mark Malleson /Center for Whale Research

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A thriving environment is at the core of our well-being.

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Canadians appreciate the clean air, safe drinking water and the awe it provides: A recent survey shows Canadians view nature as core to their personal and national identity.

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But the federal government now suggests it’s in our national interest to weaken environmental protections and risk greater harm to nature.

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As researchers studying how animals and their environments are affected by human activities, we’re deeply concerned about the government’s proposal to fast-track major projects.

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Functioning ecosystems are key to our economy. Canada’s great outdoors drive tourism, a fast-growing sector bringing $130 billion in visitor spending and supporting one-in-10 jobs. And Canada’s fish and seafood industry contributed $4.6 billion to the GDP in 2023, underpinning economic stability in coastal communities.

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Yet, we face a biodiversity crisis. Human impacts on nature are so dominant that we have initiated a new geological epoch — the Anthropocene — and the first mass extinction since the dinosaurs died out.

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The causes of wildlife declines are diverse but often linked to habitat degradation from industrial expansion. For example, widespread declines in woodland caribou stem from forest harvest and oil extraction. Fossil fuel-driven climate change exacerbates impacts, as for polar bears in the Arctic.

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The number of impacted species in Canada is vast. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has assessed that 379 species are facing imminent risk of disappearing from Canada. And 203 more are likely to face the same fate if no protections are put in place.

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Thankfully, Canada has important laws that protect the environment. Under the Species at Risk Act, the government must develop recovery strategies for at-risk wildlife and limit industrial activities that would harm the species’ survival. The Fisheries Act protects the habitat of fish and regulates fisheries. And the Impact Assessment Act provides a framework to evaluate how major projects, such as pipelines and nuclear facilities, will impact the environment, the health of local communities and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

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While these laws serve as pillars of Canada’s conservation framework, our current policies are insufficient to reverse troubling biodiversity trends. For example, the Species at Risk Act only covers aquatic species, migratory birds and animals living on federally managed public land, leaving the fate of most at-risk species in the hands of inadequate provincial legislation.

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While our environmental laws and their implementation need improvement, the recent government proposal goes in the opposite direction, seeking to dismantle the few safeguards in place.