Quebec warns the federal government about saving caribou: if we want to save the species at all costs, we could lose jobs, as during the federal moratorium on cod.
Ottawa has threatened to intervene directly to rescue the caribou, under the endangered species law, and sought a plan from Quebec as late as April 20.
The Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Pierre Dufour, said on Wednesday that negotiations were ongoing and the consultations he had launched were still ongoing, similar to the Independent Commission on Woodland and Mountain Caribou.
In a scrum at the end of the Council of Ministers meeting, he warned the federal government against being too hasty.
He recalled the federal decision to impose a moratorium on cod fishing on the country’s east coast in 1992, which caused the loss of 40,000 jobs, but nevertheless saved the species.
Our commission is somewhat similar to this perspective we want to show (sic)please Mr. Dufour. This is to go to the territories where the caribou are, to get the pulse of the population.
He recalled that consultations are currently taking place throughout Quebec until May 17.
In a letter dated April 8, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault gave the Quebec government until April 20 to inform him of his caribou and habitat care plan.
If the plan is deemed inadequate, Guilbeault said he will recommend that the cabinet issue a decree protecting parts of the animal habitat on Quebec territory, regardless of the province’s objections.
The purpose of the Commission is collect the opinions of interested parties about the two theoretical scenarios, proposed by the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks (MFFP) O sa any idea that would make it possible to find a realistic and defensive balance to reconcile the goal of protecting woodland caribou and the economic interests at stake.
The first scenario proposed by the MFFP aims to enlarge the area under deer habitat restoration and will have an impact on current forestry activities and may threaten jobs. The second would include a smaller caribou habitat restoration zone and have no additional impact on forestry activities and therefore do not threaten jobs.
The consultations and plans proposed by Quebec have been criticized by environmental groups and scientists.
Source: Radio-Canada
