Since 2012, the Canadian government has systematically gutted its laws protecting fish. First, it amended the federal
Fisheries Act, dramatically weakening protection of fish and fish habitat.
Then, it
lifted the moratorium on fish farms in BC, opening the door to a massive expansion of aquaculture.Now, it wants to pass regulations that would
allow the Environment and Fisheries Ministers to permit fish farms and industry to pollute our waters, harming fish with impunity. These regulations would let the Ministers:
- Give blanket authorization to fish farms to dump drugs, pesticides and other pollutants into wild fish habitat;
- Allow other industries to dump pesticides in fisheries waters; and
-
Shirk their regulatory oversight of pollutants, offloading responsibility onto provincial governments or relying on.
Cabinet is considering public comments before it passes these regulations, but there's not much time. Act now! Tell the Canadian government to protect our wild fish and not pass these risky regulations.
Dear Prime Minister Harper, Minister Shea, and Mr. Ferguson,
Re: Proposed Regulations Establishing Conditions for Making Regulations under Subsection 36(5.2) of the Fisheries Act, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I February 15, 2014
I am writing to you today to urge you not to pass regulations that would allow the Fisheries Ministers to give blanket-authorization to fish farms and other industries to pollute our fisheries waters.
I also urge you not to pass regulations that would allow the Environment Minister to offload her responsibility for pollutants onto the provinces or other government agencies.
Fish play important economic, cultural, spiritual and recreational roles across the country. Careful monitoring and case-by-case consideration of pollution approvals helps safeguard our waters, our fisheries and our communities.
Allowing for blanket-approvals and offloading responsibility onto the provinces would result in less efficient and less effective, fisheries protection throughout Canada. These regulations are not in the best interests of our fisheries or of Canadians.
[Your message here]
Sincerely,
[your name]
