DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY- HANSARD
MONDAY, MAY 31, 2010 - Afternoon Sitting

Introduction and First Reading of Bills

Bill M207 — SPECIES AT RISK PROTECTION ACT, 2010

R. Fleming presented a bill entitled Species at Risk Protection Act.

R. Fleming: I move first reading of the Species at Risk Protection Act.

Motion approved.

R. Fleming: Introduction of this bill enables British Columbia to join with eight provinces in Canada that currently have stand-alone legislation protecting critical habitat for endangered species at risk of extinction. B.C. has long been recognized as Canada's most biodiverse province, but our province is also noted for lacking in explicit legislative framework that ensures that B.C.'s unique and rich habitat is not lost forever from human impacts that can be better managed.

Research supported by the Law Foundation of B.C. established that B.C. is host to 76 percent of Canada's bird species, 70 percent of its freshwater fish species and 60 percent of its conifer species, yet only 4 percent of B.C.'s 600 species at risk are listed under existing provincial laws.

B.C. is host to 76 percent of Canada's bird species, 70 percent of its freshwater fish species and 60 percent of its conifer species, yet only 4 percent of B.C.'s 600 species at risk are listed under existing provincial laws.

The provincial government is aware of recent reports about the levels of endangerment for wildlife, including our iconic orca whales. It's growing more severe each year of each decade. To quote that report: without immediate action, British Columbia's biodiversity "is vulnerable to rapid deterioration, especially in light of climate change."

The bill will greatly expand upon the narrow jurisdictional protection offered by the federal Species at Risk Act. The bill will enable independent scientists from respected bodies like the Royal Society of Canada to identify species and ecosystems under threat and create recovery plans.
In determining and implementing necessary actions, government will benefit from the best scientific knowledge available as well as aboriginal knowledge and be able to balance long-term protective measures with economic and social considerations.

To create a sustainable B.C., this legislation intends to strengthen conservation agreements our province already has in place to help our province biodiversity adapt to climate change and recover and restore the health of species and ecosystem from decline and disappearance.

Eight years ago the United Nations declared 2010 the year of biodiversity, with the intent of achieving significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity lost at the global, regional and national level.

B.C. ecosystems we all recognize, including coastal Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and grasslands are part of the land base regard as critically imperiled or vulnerable. We need legislative tools to guide our action. This bill offers our province a means to protect species at risk and the rich biodiversity of our province for future generations to come.

I move the bill be placed on the orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting the House after today.

Bill M207, Species at Risk Protection Act, 2010, introduced, read a first time and ordered to be placed on orders of the day for second reading at the next sitting of the House after today.