Hundreds of Canadian species -- from humpback whales to woodland caribou -- are at risk. Why?

Because the federal government refuses to follow its own endangered species law.

The Species at Risk Act protects endangered wildlife and the habitat they depend on -- but only after a recovery plan has been developed for each one. These plans are required by law. To date, the federal government has delayed releasing recovery plans for 188 species, many by more than five years.

On top of all this, the federal government is now talking about changing the Species at Risk Act instead of living up to its responsibility to fully implement it.

Don't let Canada's endangered species disappear. Tell the federal government to live up to its legal duty to implement and enforce Canada's national endangered species law, without weakening its requirements.

Dear Minister Kent,

Court cases and research are pointing to the federal government's failure to follow its own law as one of the biggest barriers to saving imperiled wildlife. Today I'm calling on the federal government to live up to its legal duty to implement and enforce Canada's national endangered species law, without weakening its requirements.

[Your comments will be inserted here.]

The Species at Risk Act (SARA) is an effective law for scientifically identifying species at risk, establishing a mandate to protect them and their habitat, and developing strategies to ensure these species survive and recover.

But SARA can only work if it is fully implemented and enforced by the government, and upholds important requirements that at-risk species need, including:

- Developing and implementing recovery strategies for each listed species by the legal deadline -- species at risk cannot wait.
- Identifying and ensuring protection of ALL the critical habitat each listed species needs to survive AND recover, wherever in Canada it is found.
- Strong federal oversight so that when provinces or territories fail to provide effective legal protection for at-risk species and their habitat, the federal government will step in.

I'm asking you to make sure the federal government implements and enforces our national endangered species law -- not weakens it to avoid its responsibility to protect Canada's species. Because once these animals and plants are gone, they're gone for good.

Sincerely,
[Your name here]