ENVI Committee Report

SUPPLEMENTARY OPINION BY THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION NEW
DEMOCRATIC PARTY REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN URBAN
CONSERVATION PLAN

The New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) would like to thank the witnesses who appeared before the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and those who submitted briefs as part of the Committee’s study on urban conservation practices in Canada.

The NDP members of the Committee support the Committee’s report. However, the NDP would like to raise some additional points brought forward by witnesses during the study, as a supplement to the report presented to the House of Commons.

Climate change was a key topic of discussion throughout the study, and witnesses raised a number of concerns. The discussion addressed the significant impact that climate change could have on communities and on the future of these communities. It was brought to the Committee’s attention that Canada’s climate is undergoing significant changes, becoming warmer and drier.[1] This change affects urban conservation in a number of ways. First of all, the quality and quantity of our water resources is at risk.[2] Second, the spread of invasive species has led to the destruction of thousands of hectares of parklands and forest in the past.[3] Third, heat islands increase the loss of biodiversity.[4] Fourth, climate change affects urban conservation not only in terms of the environment, but also in terms of the economy. Some witnesses mentioned that the secondary impacts of climate change have caused property values to drop[5] and led to increased management costs[6] and, in the long term, cost billions in secondary impacts could cost $6,500 billion in damages.[7] Municipalities and their ecosystems will not be spared from this damage, which, in our opinion, creates a significant financial incentive to act ambitiously on climate change prevention.

Witnesses were also concerned about protecting fish habitats as part of overall ecosystem health and water quality, particularly for those municipalities situated on bodies of water. Many agreed that the solution is to return to using regulatory measures to protect fish habitats. The following statement to the committee by Mr. Don Macivor encapsulates the collective opinion on this issue:

I would be worried about a total loss of fish habitat protection. If that does happen, then we are looking at ways we could achieve the same objectives using our own legislation, but it's an uncertain landscape that we are working in.[8]

Witnesses also reacted strongly to the recent budgetary restrictions that have resulted in countless cuts and scientists being laid off. They had serious concerns about the consequences[9] that these budget restrictions and cuts could have on the quality of the environment.[10]

Witnesses also told the Committee that it would be to Canada’s advantage to have Canadian-based environmental research[11] to better understand[12] and predict[13] complex environmental changes.[14] This would allow the government to target areas of concern[15] and improve the cost-effectiveness[16] of its actions in order to find the best-value solution.[17]

Lastly, the targets and goals mentioned in the report are underdeveloped. The New Democrats would have liked to have seen passages in the report that would have provided for the development and implementation of guidelines for tangible and realistic goals and targets for effective urban conservation. This should have been part of the vision for a national urban conservation plan.