Environmental groups believe that the federal government’s new five-year deal with Ontario to protect the province’s beleaguered caribou species is a “spectacular fail” for the species.
The agreement was reached last week by Ottawa and the province. Both parties described it as “key to managing caribou recovery”, which also considers the economy.
However, environmental groups are outraged by the new deal.
The Wildlands League and the David Suzuki Foundation teamed up with Ontario Nature to announce that they have reached an agreement to clear forest tracts that are part the boreal caribou’s natural habitat.
Anna Baggio (Conservation Director at Wildlands League) said, “It’s an incredible failure.”
“This agreement enshrines even more destruction of habitat.”
She said that the deal does not ensure that logging or mining is restricted in the northern Ontario range of the caribou.
Boreal caribou are a endangered species in both Canada and Ontario, according to the Endangered Species Act.
According to the federal and provincial governments, there are approximately 5,000 remaining caribou in the province.
A small, isolated population can also be found along the coast and on several islands in Lake Superior.
In an effort to save the population, the Michipicoten First Nations, the province and several environmentalists moved a few caribou onto other islands on the lake in 2019.
Many wolves managed the climb onto Michipicoten Island in 2014, when the water was frozen. Over the next few years, the wolves ended up eating the majority of the caribou. Those wolves were eventually relocated to Isle Royale on Lake Superior’s American side.
Julee Boan, Ontario Nature, stated in a statement that the deal was “shocking”.
“This agreement doesn’t just delay restoring caribou habitat, it greenlights more habitat destruction.”
The David Suzuki Foundation alleged that Steven Guilbeault (federal Environment Minister) prioritized relations with the Ontario government rather than protecting habitat.
Rachel Plotkin from the David Suzuki Foundation stated in a statement that “We have seen minister after minister and bureaucrat upon bureaucrats wait for Ontario’s to do the right thing rather than taking action.”
“The sad fact is that the province is still pushing a policy landscape to further habitat destruction despite all this waiting.”
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks of the province did not immediately respond when we asked for comment.
The agreement “provides an agreement framework that commits both government to establishing and implementing conservation actions necessary to maintain and restore self-sustaining populations in boreal caibou in the Province,” reads the decision. It was posted on the website of the provincial government.
The decision also noted that the range of the caribou “also provides many valuable resources to the forest, mineral exploration, and mining sectors.”
The decision stated that while the agreement’s main purpose is to preserve or improve the environment necessary for the recovery and preservation of the boreal caibou, Canada and Ontario recognize that in order to achieve boreal caibou protection and recovery, they will also consider socio-economic factors along with conservation measures.
Environmental groups claim that the agreement is in contradiction to Steven Guilbeault, federal Environment Minister,’s threats to unilaterally impose tougher protections for Quebec caribou.
From the premier to the minister of forestry, Quebec officials have said that it was an overstep by federal government and would lead to loss of jobs.
Environment and Climate Change Canada stated Thursday that the agreement with Ontario “doesn’t prevent the minister from exercising his authority” under Species at Risk Act.
The ministry stated in a statement that “the parties to the agreements would be held accountable and will demonstrate progress on implementation of conservation actions outlined under the conservation agreement through public reporting.”
Guilbeault stated that the agreement is a “significant step towards ensuring sustainability.”
He said that the agreement included significant new commitments in habitat restoration activities, increased habitat conservation areas, better evidence based decision-making and monitoring, reporting, as well as stakeholder collaboration. The investment was backed up by a $10 million share for 2022-2023.
“We are clear that we will need to do more conservation work and increase funding in the future to ensure the caribou’s successful recovery.”
This report was published by The Canadian Press on April 28, 2022.
Liam Casey – The Canadian Press
