FOPO Committee Report
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
Supplementary opinion of the New Democratic Party
The federal government’s Recovery Strategy for Southern Resident Killer Whales identifies three main threats to the population: environmental contamination, acoustic and physical disturbance, and reduced availability of preferred prey, (ie. Chinook salmon). All three of these threats would be significantly exacerbated by the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The government’s push for this project is therefore contradictory to its plan to better protect these whales and to recommendations contained in this Fisheries and Oceans Committee report.
- 1. Therefore, the New Democratic Party of Canada recommends the government of Canada cancel plans to proceed with the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
It is astounding to note that, despite its legal obligation to protect endangered species, the federal government has chosen not to take action to protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales when it has had the chance to do so. On November 1, 2018, the Governor in Council refused to issue an emergency order under the Species at Risk Act, despite a legal suit filed by conservation groups calling for such an order – and over the recommendation of the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
- 2. Therefore, the New Democratic Party of Canada recommends the government of Canada issue an emergency order under the Species at Risk Act to provide immediate legal protection for endangered southern resident killer whales.
Witnesses testified a long term strategy is necessary to ensure prey availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales. Threat to Chinook salmon, the southern resident killer whale’s preferred prey, include a warming ocean and freshwater temperatures, destruction of stream and estuary habitats, fishing pressures, and pollution.
- 3. Therefore, the New Democratic Party of Canada recommends Fisheries and Oceans Canada ensure prey availability through the creation of feeding refuges, closed to commercial and recreational salmon fishing.