Freeskier
03-14-2012, 02:58 AM
This IS the ndp bringing this up, but the lack of denial from the conservatives is a little frightening. Would like to see some follow up/alternative pitches, but here it is.
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/canada/ndp+says+leaked+documents+show+feds+abandoning+fresh+water+oversight/6442599865/story.html
OTTAWA - The federal NDP says it has obtained leaked documents showing the Conservatives are poised to strip the Fisheries Act of habitat-protection provisions — a change that would dramatically reduce Ottawa's power to oversee fresh water.
The federal government took no steps Tuesday to deny the claim.
The contents of the documents, but not the documents themselves, were widely distributed to media on Tuesday.
The material suggests there are plans to revise the Fisheries Act so that Ottawa would be responsible for fish, but not for their surrounding habitat.
"This is a serious situation and will put Canada back to where we were in the pre-1976 period where Canada had no laws to protect fish habitat and no way to monitor the great industrial expansion that occurred in Canada with the consequential loss of major fish habitat all across Canada," said biologist Otto Langer.
Langer is a former senior official in Fisheries and Oceans who says he was given the draft by insiders at the department.
Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield did not deny that changes were in the works. In the House of Commons, he said no final decision has been made.
"Canada is blessed with an abundant array of natural resources of which we should be proud and which we take seriously in our responsibility to conserve and protect," Ashfield said.
This is the bit that leads me to believe the story. It's basically spinning the fact that economic exploitation is their priority.
His spokesperson added that fisheries policies are "outdated and unfocused in terms of balancing environmental and economic realities." She included a list of media clips about strange ways the Fisheries Act work.
Read it on Global News: Global Edmonton | NDP says leaked documents show feds abandoning fresh water oversight
http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/canada/ndp+says+leaked+documents+show+feds+abandoning+fresh+water+oversight/6442599865/story.html
OTTAWA - The federal NDP says it has obtained leaked documents showing the Conservatives are poised to strip the Fisheries Act of habitat-protection provisions — a change that would dramatically reduce Ottawa's power to oversee fresh water.
The federal government took no steps Tuesday to deny the claim.
The contents of the documents, but not the documents themselves, were widely distributed to media on Tuesday.
The material suggests there are plans to revise the Fisheries Act so that Ottawa would be responsible for fish, but not for their surrounding habitat.
"This is a serious situation and will put Canada back to where we were in the pre-1976 period where Canada had no laws to protect fish habitat and no way to monitor the great industrial expansion that occurred in Canada with the consequential loss of major fish habitat all across Canada," said biologist Otto Langer.
Langer is a former senior official in Fisheries and Oceans who says he was given the draft by insiders at the department.
Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield did not deny that changes were in the works. In the House of Commons, he said no final decision has been made.
"Canada is blessed with an abundant array of natural resources of which we should be proud and which we take seriously in our responsibility to conserve and protect," Ashfield said.
This is the bit that leads me to believe the story. It's basically spinning the fact that economic exploitation is their priority.
His spokesperson added that fisheries policies are "outdated and unfocused in terms of balancing environmental and economic realities." She included a list of media clips about strange ways the Fisheries Act work.
Read it on Global News: Global Edmonton | NDP says leaked documents show feds abandoning fresh water oversight