Update:
Local Nanaimo Wildlife Stewarts, Rory Rickwood and Roger Giles have formaly presented an environmental petition to the Canadian Government. The government has registered it as, "Canadian Environmental Petition 225".
As presented above and stated in the petition: during 2005/2006, the Government of Canada’s commitment to protecting a fragile ecosystem was ignored during a Canadian Environmental Assessment Act screening process (CEAA) when a harmful asphalt trail/berm and fencing development was put across an environmentally fragile aquatic environment that is a government registered Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI). The asphalt trail contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are persistent, carcinogenic aquatic toxins that are known to be bioaccumulative and highly harmful to mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. The page-wire fencing is known to harm low-flying migratory birds. The asphalt trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail system, and the fencing/trails approval was inappropriately added to the Cat Stream Detention Pond approval (CEAA Ref. No.:05-01-10543).
The information presented in our petition clearly shows the land development referral to the CEAA screening in the City of Nanaimo involving a SEI was not carried out in a thorough and transparent way, and that the conclusions drawn from the environmental assessment did not reflect the best and most current science available – or best management practices! A cogent argument can be made that the CEAA screening process failed in protecting a fragile ecosystem and that a major SEI disturbance occurrence in Nanaimo was a result of Canada failing to apply its own guidelines and meet its international obligations under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.
It is wrong for the federal government to present a CEAA screening process and stewardship model when it is evident environmental degradation continues to happen to the wetlands of Canada.
The vulgarization of community stewardship by the City of Nanaimo is absolutely wrong and works against environmental sustainability. Also at stake is the efficacy of stewardship and community involvement program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. When community stewards follow the advice of government officials, federal department websites, and find that municipalities are thumbing their noises at stewardship guidelines and sound science, then there is a serious disconnect with the present model that is designed to respect nature. The Government of Canada can take a lead role in helping shift a civic culture's abusive approach to ecosystems to a culture that embraces conservation.
The Government of Canada must not deny their responsibility and need to commit to take immediate action for the environment. It would be truly responsible for us all to take collaborative action to remove the asphalt trail from the SEI and re-route the trail around the SEI. Such meaningful action is “key” to the principles of environmental sustainability.
We all can play an important role in protecting our natural legacy, and failure to act on this petition will be a tell-tail sign that wetland ecosystems in Canada will suffer the “death of a thousand cuts”.
Regarding our environment:
"The time of half-measure has passed. We are entering a period of consequences," says Al Gore, Nobel Peace Prize winner, quoting Winston Churchill.
A great response to our petition:
Dear Rory.
Thank you very much for your work to protect nature in Nanaimo! I will ensure that your petition is circulated to the members of the Canadian Nature Network. Nature Canada is working very closely with Environmental Defence, David Suzuki Foundation and Ecojustice on issues such as these. We will ensure that everyone is aware of your petition and we will see how we can fit it into our strategy for strengthening the implementation of the federal species at risk act.
Sincerely yours,
Julie Gelfand, BSc, MBA
President, Directrice Generale
Nature Canada
www.naturecanada.ca