How will Canada match Australia? | David Suzuki Foundation

Help the Government of Canada keep its promise

Canada boasts three great oceans, but how well are we taking care of them?
Not very well. While Australia has just protected 40 per cent of its oceans, Canada is weakening what little protection it has. Tell your MP that our oceans need the support and protection they deserve.

It’s not about saving money. These cuts are happening at the same time as the federal government is increasing spending by tens of billions of dollars on new navy vessels and military aircraft. Investing less than one per cent of these costs for marine protected areas could make Canada a world leader in ocean conservation. Australia has managed to protect over 3 million square km of ocean, while Canada has protected less than 1 per cent.

Currently, 99 per cent of our oceans lack any protected status, despite repeated international commitments to create marine protected areas. The federal government also pulled out of agreements to work cooperatively with the Province of B.C. and First Nations to more effectively manage our ocean activities.

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To:

Stephen Harper – Prime Minster of Canada <pm@pm.gc.ca>,
Keith Ashfield - Minister of Fisheries and Oceans <Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca>,

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Canada enjoys the benefits of billions of dollars of economic activity generated from our three great oceans. I write to you today to urge you to invest in the long-term prosperity of Canadians by properly funding and supporting healthy oceans.

Cuts to programs and legislation that keep Canada’s oceans healthy are a step backwards when Canada already lags behind in marine protection compared to other developed nations, such as the U.S. and Norway-- Australia has just reached a benchmark of 40 per cent protection, while Canada has yet to protect even 1 per cent. Our current open-ended policies are no longer acceptable. It’s time to develop targets and timelines for marine planning and protection that match our international commitments.

I also urge you to properly fund scientific research. Our resource decisions must be based on the best available evidence.

With increased activities and threats in our oceans, including increasing oil tanker traffic in B.C.’s coastal waters, marine planning and protection are more important than ever. Yet, planned budget cuts and legislative changes threaten to slow the already painfully slow progress to protect our oceans.

The current federal budget lacks any clear commitment to protecting our oceans. I urge you to take steps that will bring Canada back into line with its international commitments and responsibilities.

If Australia can do it, so can Canada.

Thank you,

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