Weakening SARA’s “jeopardy clause” would directly jeopardize Canada’s endangered wildlife

Canada’s Species at Risk Act was created to prevent endangered wildlife from slipping into extinction. Today, the law itself is at risk.¹

The federal government is considering weakening one of the Species at Risk Act’s most important sections: the “jeopardy clause,” which prohibits projects that would jeopardize the survival or recovery of endangered species.

One species directly affected by this change is the Southern Resident killer whales. Only 74 remain.

We support efforts to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty and security, but economic development should not come at the expense of the laws that protect our most endangered wildlife. At its core, this issue is about what kind of country Canada wants to be. Canadians take pride in our natural heritage, in the wildlife that share our coastlines and forests, and in the local economies and communities that depend on healthy ecosystems.

Canada does not need to choose between a strong economy and a living planet. The real test is whether we protect not only endangered species, but also the laws that stand between them and extinction.

We are asking you to urgently do two things:

Provide feedback on dismantling the jeopardy clause in the Species at Risk Act (we have a template that you can edit).
Send your same comment to the sole BC federal cabinet member Gregor Roberston, Minister Responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada and for Housing and Infrastructure. CC your letter to other south coast MPs.

1. Give public comment until June 7, 2026

Discussion paper links

Send your feedback to: engagement@pco-bcp.gc.ca

Suggested feedback; it’s more effective to make this your own.

I strongly oppose the proposal to override section 73(3)(c) of Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) as part of building One Canadian Economy. Doing so, as proposed in the discussion paper, would remove one of SARA’s most important safeguards: the requirement that federally authorized activities not jeopardize the survival or recovery of endangered species.

This provision is intended to prevent projects from pushing endangered species closer to extinction. Weakening it would have direct implications for Southern Resident killer whales, which the federal government has already determined face an imminent threat to their survival and recovery. Their recovery depends on reducing threats, including underwater noise and disturbance from shipping. Yet these threats are not being reduced; instead, the quality of their critical habitat continues to deteriorate as shipping and industrial activity expand.

I support efforts to strengthen Canada’s economy and sovereignty, but not by dismantling the laws that protect endangered species. Removing this safeguard for projects such as Roberts Bank Terminal 2 and other developments that would increase underwater noise and disturbance would further diminish the prospects for recovery of Southern Resident killer whales and ask Canadians to accept the possible extinction of this iconic population as the price of industrial expansion.

2. Send to Minister Gregor Robertson, and cc south coast MPs

Suggested letter; it’s more effective if you make this your own.

Honorable Minister Gregor Robertson, gregor.robertson@parl.gc.ca
House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0A6
Main office – Vancouver, 360 – 3150 54th Ave E, Vancouver, British Columbia V5S 1Z1

Dear Minister Robertson,

I am writing as a resident greatly concerned about the changes proposed to Canada’s Species at Risk Ask as part of the building One Canadian Economy. The provision in SARA is designed to prevent projects from pushing endangered species closer to extinction. Weakening it would have direct implications for Southern Resident killer whales, which the federal government has already determined face an imminent threat to their survival and recovery. Recovery of these killer whales depends on reducing threats, including underwater noise and disturbance from shipping. Yet these threats are not being reduced; instead, the quality of their critical habitat continues to deteriorate as shipping and industrial activity expand.I support efforts to strengthen Canada’s economy and sovereignty, but not by dismantling the laws that protect endangered species. Removing this safeguard for projects such as Roberts Bank Terminal 2 and other developments that would increase underwater noise and disturbance in Critical Habitat would further diminish the prospects for recovery of Southern Resident killer whales and ask Canadians to accept the possible extinction of this iconic population as the price of industrial expansion.

Sincerely,

[Your name goes here]

CC south coast MPs

cc: Honorable Randeep Sarai, Surrey Centre, Secretary of State (International Development), randeep.sarai@parl.gc.ca
cc: Honourable Stephanie McLean, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, Secretary of State (Seniors), stephanie.mclean@parl.gc.ca
cc: Honourable Hedy Fry, Vancouver Centre hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca
cc: Honourable Terry Beech, Burnaby North—Seymour terry.beech@parl.gc.ca
cc: Honourable Jill McKnight, Delta, Associate Minister of National Defence, jill.mcknight@parl.gc.ca
cc: MP Ernie Klassen, South Surrey—White Rock, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, ernie.klassen@parl.gc.c