Canada Federal Election Survey - 2006

This election survey has been sent to five political parties in Canada. (Election day is January 23, 2006.)

New Democratic Party | Conservative Party | Green Party | Liberals | Bloc Quebecois

For details on public policy regarding Manitoba's lands and waters, previous election environment commitments, policy and protected areas mapping, go to our Governments page. Each question has been posed to the political parties based on their campaign to form government in Canada. The survey requests either a Yes or No answer to each question, with comments optional. Please Note: responses from the political parties have not been altered in any way. When a party did not answer a question with a definite Yes or No, " — " was entered.
NOTE - 3 parties have responded (Green Party, NDP and Liberals).

Species At Risk Questions

Q21 Will your government make use of emergency and safety net provisions of the Species At Risk Act to safeguard Manitoba's Woodland Caribou, given the Government of Manitoba has not listed the Woodlands Caribou under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act (MESA)?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	The NDP continues to be critical of the inadequacies of the Species at Risk Act, particularly the section that leaves the final determination of species at risk to cabinet, instead of scientists. In October 2004, we were highly critical of the Liberal Government’s decision to not put BC's Sakinaw Lake sockeye and the Cultus Lake sockeye on the species at risk list. As NDP MP and Environment critic Nathan Cullen said at the time "This is the first time the Government has said 'no' to a recommendation to protect a species. The entire act has only been in force since June, and the Liberals have already set about weakening it. What we are witnessing here today is conscious neglect and abdication of responsibility." While the NDP is critical of the inadequacies of the Act, we support using this Act and all of its provisions to ensure Canada does indeed protect species at risk.
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal	—	—	21, 22, and 23. The Liberal government is committed to conserving Canada’s wildlife and biodiversity. We believe protecting our natural heritage will help lead to a healthier environment. The recommendation to add new species to SARA is based on scientific assessments by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and on consultations with governments, landowners, conservationists, Aboriginal peoples, stakeholders and the Canadian public. We are committed to ensuring the protection of species at risk by developing: recovery strategies and action plans for threatened and endangered species; and management plans for species of special concern. In Budget 2003, the Liberal government announced $33 million in new spending to implement the SARA. This amount will boost the existing spending that has been in place since 2000 ($180 million over the 2000-2005). The process that has lead to the new Species at Risk Act was initiated in 1996 when the federal, provincial and territorial governments signed the National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) meets at least once a year to make updates to the status of different species. The SARA has adopted the same guidelines for its process of following species recovery. Decisions to add additional species to SARA are taken after serious consideration of the information received from COSEWIC and consultations with the affected provincial governments, First Nations, industry and others.
Bloc

Q22 Will your government make use of emergency and safety net provisions of the Species at Risk Act to safeguard species in Manitoba, for which COSEWIC may recommend emergency action and which the Government of Manitoba has not legally recognized as being at risk under MESA?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #21 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal	—	—	See #21 response
Bloc

Q23 Will your government make sure that equivalent measures are put in place in Manitoba for all SARA-listed species and their habitat (woodland caribou, lake sturgeon, etc.), regardless of whether or not such species are listed under MESA?

	YES	NO	Comment
NDP	—	—	See #21 response
Conservative
Green Party
Liberal	—	—	See #21 response
Bloc

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