Authored by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce
Co-sponsored by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce, Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, Salmon Arm and District Chamber of Commerce, and Sicamous Chamber of Commerce
Issue
As Canada’s natural resource industries strive to be responsible, constructive partners in achieving national biodiversity objectives, alignment and coordination with federal, provincial, and territorial, as well as land use ministries, as proposed in the National Accord for Species at Risk, is essential.
Background
Mineral and forestry industry challenges are compounded by the underlying issues of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), including the inadequate coordination between the federal and provincial/territorial levels of government.1[1] A more effective and stewardship driven approach to species at risk conservation and recovery, including long-term compliance and permitting mechanisms, is needed in order to deliver positive outcomes on the ground while at the same time providing clarity to project proponents.2 3 [2][3] Encouraging sustainable development projects means adopting an effective approach to optimizing environmental, social, and economic priorities on the landscape that reconciles the needs of conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem function with that of resource development, community priorities, and the needs of other land users.4[4]
1
Under SARA, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada is required to assess species at risk,5[5] however, the process of listing a species is discretionary.6[6] Planning for conservation should be done at the landscape level and should ensure that all values of the land are understood and considered in decision making.
To provide an example, three pieces of legislation exist in Ontario under three separate ministries that oversee endangered species including the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) under the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Endangered Species Act under the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MCEP), as well as the Federal Government’s SARA. At present, the CFSA appears to be the best approach as it targets managing large landscapes over time and space. By ensuring we have the natural distribution of habitats on our forests for the long run, this provides the best opportunity to ensure habitat for as many species as possible.7[7] Alternatively, the Endangered Species Act in Ontario focuses more on individual species than on habitat.8[8] This leads to conflicting goals even between endangered species. For example, the whip-poor-will requires a younger conifer forest while caribou have an affinity
1 Facets Journal, May 2019, Westwood, Alana R. and Otto, Sarah P. et al., “Protecting Biodiversity in British Columbia: Recommendations for
Developing Species At Risk Legislation,” https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2018-0042
2 Smart Prosperity Institute, February 2018, Scott McFatridge and Tony Young, “Species in the Balance: Partnering on Tools and Incentives for
Recovering Species at Risk,” https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/sites/default/files/sr-02-01-18-final.pdf
3 Natural Resources Canada, “Implementing Ecosystem-based Management Approaches in Canada’s Forests”, 2008.
4 Ibid.
5 Species at Risk Act, SC 2002, c 29, s.14 [SARA].
6 Ibid.
7 Email correspondence with Chamber member Rayonier Advanced Materials, July 2019.
8 George Morris Centre, September 2010, Al Mussell, Claudia Schmidt, and Bob Seguin, “The Ontario Endangered Species Act: Understanding the
Incentives, Implications, and Alternatives,” http://www.georgemorris.org/publications/ON_Endangered_Species_091410.pdf
to older forests.9 10[9][10] The CFSA approach accommodates this by providing a diversity of habitats better.11[11]
Resource industries continue to demonstrate resource stewardship vital to our nation’s economy, for industries maintaining market access, and job creation.12[12] These efforts should be designed to foster trust and cooperation between governments and stakeholders and that solutions be pragmatic.
In the past, mining proponents faced SARA-related barriers during the environmental assessment process. The narrow application of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA 2012) led to mining projects being held accountable for cumulative effects on species and habitat caused by ongoing non-mining activities that were not subject to CEAA 2012. The result of which meant projects being delayed or shelved.
SARA’s scope, which disproportionately focuses on mining and forestry industries, creates delays and uncertainty for projects in regions where species listed under SARA or their habitat are found on provincial Crown land.13[13] A specific concern related to the Species at Risk Act is primarily related to caribou, and the arbitrary 35 percent disturbance threshold– a further disadvantage to industry with little evidence to support.14[14] The Species at Risk Advisory Committee and the National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium are important fora for exploring solutions with other industries, civil society and Indigenous partners, however the current approach fails both caribou and industry.15[15]
Forestry companies are also faced with job loss, mill closures, and reduction in total industry wood supply requirements in staggering numbers as a result.16[16] Impacts in caribou-specific regions have already seen a direct or indirect job loss between 278 to 2837 positions. Furthermore, the expected reduction in provincial Gross Domestic Product ranges from $27 million to $166 million and reduced tax revenue between $16 million and $166 million in these respective regions. Figures that are echoed by forestry industries in other provinces.17[17]
The recent policy shift, described in the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk in Canada, offers promise of a more collaborative, multi-species approach to conservation and recovery.18[18] However, this approach is not yet reflected in SARA guidance, recovery strategies, conservation agreements, etc. and it is still too early to determine if the appropriate tools, government organizational and programmatic structure, and regulations will be put in place for this change to take place to achieve better outcomes.19[19]
Effective implementation of the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk in Canada must be informed by the best available information on species at risk, including research and data supplied by industry partners. The mining sector has contributed significantly over the years towards enhancing the understanding of species at risk through monitoring program, research funding and in-kind support on various initiatives. Decision-makers must have access to these data to ensure that the best-available scientific information informs actions on the ground.20[20]
9 Stewart, B. 2017, “Beneficial Management Practices for Southwestern Ontario Forest Birds at Risk: A Guide for Woodlot Owners and Other Forest
Practitioners,” Published by Bird Studies Canada. Pp. 21. https://www.birdscanada.org/download/ONSARBMP_EN.pdf
10 Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, 2006, “Uncertain Future: Woodland Caribou and Canada’s Boreal Forest,”
http://wildlandsleague.org/attachments/2006.05.CPAWS.Report-Caribou.pdf
11 Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994, S.O. 1994, c. 25
12 Evidence – ENVI (37-1) – No. 9 – House of Commons of Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/37-
1/ENVI/meeting-9/evidence
13 Natural Resources Canada, 2008, “Implementing Ecosystem-based Management Approaches in Canada’s Forests,”
http://www.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/28282.pdf
14 Canadian Mineral Industry Federation, August 2018, “Addressing Canada’s Declining Mineral Industry Competitiveness, A plan for National
Action,” https://www.pdac.ca/docs/default-source/priorities/public-affairs/cmif-emmc/cmif-brief-2018-emmc-final-en.pdf?sfvrsn=cfc08598_0
15 Email correspondence with Chamber member EACOM Timber Corporation, July 2019.
16 Palmer, V. (2019, May 03). Vaughn Palmer: John Horgan’s lack of consultation with industry concerns West Fraser boss. Retrieved from https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-john-horgans-lack-of-consultation-with-industry-concerns-west-fraser-boss
17 According to statistics from EACOM Timber Corporation, July 2019.
18 Environment and Climate Change Canada, Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 2018, “an-Canadian Approach to Species at Risk Conservation,” https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/eccc/documents/pdf/species- risk/pan-canadian-approach-transforming-species-risk-conservation-canada.pdf
19 Email correspondence with Canadian Mining Association, July 2019.
20 Smart Prosperity Institute, February 2018, Scott McFatridge and Tony Young, “Species in the Balance: Partnering on Tools and Incentives for
Recovering Species at Risk,” https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/sites/default/files/sr-02-01-18-final.pdf