In a statement Langer indicated; "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," Langer observed that since the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline would have to cross hundreds of streams and rivers, the loosening of federal legislation would only make it easier for the project to be built.

When asked in question period by NDP MP Fin Donnelly, Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield denied that any decision to re-word federal legislation protecting fish habitat had been made. Minister Ashfield's office did not deny Langer's claim, adding that changes are needed.

The proposed new wording includes many exemptions plus watering down of fish habitat protection. Exemptions like giving the minister "or a person prescribed by the regulations" the authority to allow and "adverse effect" on fish.

In addition, 400 letters sent to the fisheries department employees, 200 of which are scientists, saying they may be 'affected' by a 'work force adjustment' directive – would certainly leads one to wonder why the federal government is seeking to gut its Department of Fisheries and Oceans.