Latest news with #LauraBowman
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed Wasaga Beach sale could set 'awful precedent,' environmentalists say
The Ontario government's plan to hand parts of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the local town for tourism development could set an "awful precedent" for other provincially owned parks, environmental advocates say. Premier Doug Ford announced in May that his government would give $38 million to Wasaga Beach to help revitalize the town's tourism scene and support future housing. Part of the proposed plan includes selling the town Beach Area 1, Beach Area 2, New Wasaga Beach and Allenwood Beach. The amount of land being transferred is nearly 60 hectares, a spokesperson for the town said in an email to CBC Toronto. In late June, the province posted a proposal to amend both the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA) and the Historical Parks Act to support the land transfer. The proposed changes are cause for concern, said Laura Bowman, a lawyer with the environmental law charity Ecojustice. Although the language of the proposed amendments isn't yet public, Bowman said there's already a legislative approval process in place within the PPCRA to dispose of lands greater than 50 hectares, or one per cent of the total park or conservation area in question. So, the desire to change the law suggests there's a desire to dispose of other areas in the future, she said — and to do so in a way that bypasses a legislative vote and avoids scrutiny. "This government has a history of trying to dispose of park lands and public lands," Bowman told CBC Toronto. "I don't find it plausible, frankly, that this is a one-off thing," Bowman said. "This is possibly setting a further precedent in that direction, and the developments are getting bigger and bigger." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment denied that the Wasaga Beach changes are more than a one-off. "No other changes are being considered beyond those included in the [Environmental Registry of Ontario]," Alexandru Cioban said in an email to CBC Toronto. Tourism push within ecologically sensitive area The vision for Wasaga Beach is one of the province's latest and largest waterfront tourism redevelopment projects in Ontario. Transferring parts of the provincial park to the town would be especially positive for local residents and businesses, said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith. "Our vision is and always has been to become a year-round destination here in Wasaga Beach that celebrates the longest freshwater beach in the world, but also the entire ecosystem here," he told CBC Toronto. From an ecological perspective, changes to the beach and the way it's maintained now could have devastating consequences, said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence. Wasaga Beach is home to the piping plover, a federally and provincially recognized endangered species, Gray said, and the beach dunes across the park play an important role in the region's river system and as a buffer for flooding. "Once these areas are removed from the park, those protections will no longer be in place," Gray said. "We'll set an awful, awful precedent if it's allowed to go ahead." Smith said his "guarantee" is that the town will act as stewards for the environment during the redevelopment process. But Bowman said she isn't confident that it can be done without the "Herculean efforts" provincial conservation scientists made to protect the plovers and their habitat. Even raking the beach and keeping it manicured will prevent the endangered bird from eating, nesting, and successfully hiding from prey, she said. "It really does potentially put the survival of that species in jeopardy," Bowman said. "These are important pieces of land for conservation and biodiversity and important recreation areas for the people of Ontario." Bill 5 sparked environmental concerns All of the environmentalists CBC Toronto spoke to for this story drew a connection between these plans and the government's recently passed Bill 5. The law, which passed in June, removed provincial protections for certain aquatic species and migratory birds — ones that are also protected under the federal Species at Risk Act — and made it easier for the government to exempt companies or projects from complying with provincial laws or regulations. Bill 5, on top of other controversial development flashpoints, such as the sale of Ontario Place and the Greenbelt scandal, has led to a deterioration of trust in the province's willingness to put the environment ahead of investment opportunities, according to Jan Sumner, executive director of Wildlands League, who worked with her organization and Sierra Legal Defence Fund (now Ecojustice) on the current PPCRA. "This is just another example of the Ford government feeling like they can step over the people of Ontario and hand out public land to private developers," Sumner said. The Ministry of Environment spokesperson said via email that the government's support of Destination Wasaga will help "preserve local heritage, create jobs, boost tourism, and drive long-term economic growth across the region." Cioban said changes to the PPRCA would specifically relate to Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, but he declined to provide specific language or details about when proposed PPRCA amendments would be made publicly available.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed Wasaga Beach sale could set 'awful precedent,' environmentalists say
The Ontario government's plan to hand parts of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the local town for tourism development could set an "awful precedent" for other provincially owned parks, environmental advocates say. Premier Doug Ford announced in May that his government would give $38 million to Wasaga Beach to help revitalize the town's tourism scene and support future housing. Part of the proposed plan includes selling the town Beach Area 1, Beach Area 2, New Wasaga Beach and Allenwood Beach. The amount of land being transferred is nearly 60 hectares, a spokesperson for the town said in an email to CBC Toronto. In late June, the province posted a proposal to amend both the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA) and the Historical Parks Act to support the land transfer. The proposed changes are cause for concern, said Laura Bowman, a lawyer with the environmental law charity Ecojustice. Although the language of the proposed amendments isn't yet public, Bowman said there's already a legislative approval process in place within the PPCRA to dispose of lands greater than 50 hectares, or one per cent of the total park or conservation area in question. So, the desire to change the law suggests there's a desire to dispose of other areas in the future, she said — and to do so in a way that bypasses a legislative vote and avoids scrutiny. "This government has a history of trying to dispose of park lands and public lands," Bowman told CBC Toronto. "I don't find it plausible, frankly, that this is a one-off thing," Bowman said. "This is possibly setting a further precedent in that direction, and the developments are getting bigger and bigger." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment denied that the Wasaga Beach changes are more than a one-off. "No other changes are being considered beyond those included in the [Environmental Registry of Ontario]," Alexandru Cioban said in an email to CBC Toronto. Tourism push within ecologically sensitive area The vision for Wasaga Beach is one of the province's latest and largest waterfront tourism redevelopment projects in Ontario. Transferring parts of the provincial park to the town would be especially positive for local residents and businesses, said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith. "Our vision is and always has been to become a year-round destination here in Wasaga Beach that celebrates the longest freshwater beach in the world, but also the entire ecosystem here," he told CBC Toronto. From an ecological perspective, changes to the beach and the way it's maintained now could have devastating consequences, said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence. Wasaga Beach is home to the piping plover, a federally and provincially recognized endangered species, Gray said, and the beach dunes across the park play an important role in the region's river system and as a buffer for flooding. "Once these areas are removed from the park, those protections will no longer be in place," Gray said. "We'll set an awful, awful precedent if it's allowed to go ahead." Smith said his "guarantee" is that the town will act as stewards for the environment during the redevelopment process. But Bowman said she isn't confident that it can be done without the "Herculean efforts" provincial conservation scientists made to protect the plovers and their habitat. Even raking the beach and keeping it manicured will prevent the endangered bird from eating, nesting, and successfully hiding from prey, she said. "It really does potentially put the survival of that species in jeopardy," Bowman said. "These are important pieces of land for conservation and biodiversity and important recreation areas for the people of Ontario." Bill 5 sparked environmental concerns All of the environmentalists CBC Toronto spoke to for this story drew a connection between these plans and the government's recently passed Bill 5. The law, which passed in June, removed provincial protections for certain aquatic species and migratory birds — ones that are also protected under the federal Species at Risk Act — and made it easier for the government to exempt companies or projects from complying with provincial laws or regulations. Bill 5, on top of other controversial development flashpoints, such as the sale of Ontario Place and the Greenbelt scandal, has led to a deterioration of trust in the province's willingness to put the environment ahead of investment opportunities, according to Jan Sumner, executive director of Wildlands League, who worked with her organization and Sierra Legal Defence Fund (now Ecojustice) on the current PPCRA. "This is just another example of the Ford government feeling like they can step over the people of Ontario and hand out public land to private developers," Sumner said. The Ministry of Environment spokesperson said via email that the government's support of Destination Wasaga will help "preserve local heritage, create jobs, boost tourism, and drive long-term economic growth across the region." Cioban said changes to the PPRCA would specifically relate to Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, but he declined to provide specific language or details about when proposed PPRCA amendments would be made publicly available.
CBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Proposed Wasaga Beach sale could set 'awful precedent,' environmentalists say
The Ontario government's plan to hand parts of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the local town for tourism development could set an "awful precedent" for other provincially owned parks, environmental advocates say. Premier Doug Ford announced in May that his government would give $38 million to Wasaga Beach to help revitalize the town's tourism scene and support future housing. Part of the proposed plan includes selling the town Beach Area 1, Beach Area 2, New Wasaga Beach and Allenwood Beach. The amount of land being transferred is nearly 60 hectares, a spokesperson for the town said in an email to CBC Toronto. In late June, the province posted a proposal to amend both the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA) and the Historical Parks Act to support the land transfer. The proposed changes are cause for concern, said Laura Bowman, a lawyer with the environmental law charity Ecojustice. Although the language of the proposed amendments isn't yet public, Bowman said there's already a legislative approval process in place within the PPCRA to dispose of lands greater than 50 hectares, or one per cent of the total park or conservation area in question. So, the desire to change the law suggests there's a desire to dispose of other areas in the future, she said — and to do so in a way that bypasses a legislative vote and avoids scrutiny. "This government has a history of trying to dispose of park lands and public lands," Bowman told CBC Toronto. "I don't find it plausible, frankly, that this is a one-off thing," Bowman said. "This is possibly setting a further precedent in that direction, and the developments are getting bigger and bigger." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment denied that the Wasaga Beach changes are more than a one-off. "No other changes are being considered beyond those included in the [Environmental Registry of Ontario]," Alexandru Cioban said in an email to CBC Toronto. Tourism push within ecologically sensitive area The vision for Wasaga Beach is one of the province's latest and largest waterfront tourism redevelopment projects in Ontario. Transferring parts of the provincial park to the town would be especially positive for local residents and businesses, said Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith. "Our vision is and always has been to become a year-round destination here in Wasaga Beach that celebrates the longest freshwater beach in the world, but also the entire ecosystem here," he told CBC Toronto. From an ecological perspective, changes to the beach and the way it's maintained now could have devastating consequences, said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence. Wasaga Beach is home to the piping plover, a federally and provincially recognized endangered species, Gray said, and the beach dunes across the park play an important role in the region's river system and as a buffer for flooding. "Once these areas are removed from the park, those protections will no longer be in place," Gray said. "We'll set an awful, awful precedent if it's allowed to go ahead." Smith said his "guarantee" is that the town will act as stewards for the environment during the redevelopment process. But Bowman said she isn't confident that it can be done without the "Herculean efforts" provincial conservation scientists made to protect the plovers and their habitat. Even raking the beach and keeping it manicured will prevent the endangered bird from eating, nesting, and successfully hiding from prey, she said. "It really does potentially put the survival of that species in jeopardy," Bowman said. "These are important pieces of land for conservation and biodiversity and important recreation areas for the people of Ontario." Bill 5 sparked environmental concerns All of the environmentalists CBC Toronto spoke to for this story drew a connection between these plans and the government's recently passed Bill 5. The law, which passed in June, removed provincial protections for certain aquatic species and migratory birds — ones that are also protected under the federal Species at Risk Act — and made it easier for the government to exempt companies or projects from complying with provincial laws or regulations. Bill 5, on top of other controversial development flashpoints, such as the sale of Ontario Place and the Greenbelt scandal, has led to a deterioration of trust in the province's willingness to put the environment ahead of investment opportunities, according to Jan Sumner, executive director of Wildlands League, who worked with her organization and Sierra Legal Defence Fund (now Ecojustice) on the current PPCRA. "This is just another example of the Ford government feeling like they can step over the people of Ontario and hand out public land to private developers," Sumner said. The Ministry of Environment spokesperson said via email that the government's support of Destination Wasaga will help "preserve local heritage, create jobs, boost tourism, and drive long-term economic growth across the region." Cioban said changes to the PPRCA would specifically relate to Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, but he declined to provide specific language or details about when proposed PPRCA amendments would be made publicly available.
Global News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Ontario's new mining bill is a ‘vendetta' against species at risk: environmentalists
Ontario is moving to gut protections for endangered plants and animals as part of a mining bill, environmental groups say, with some calling it the most comprehensive attack on the province's at-risk species legislation in nearly two decades. The province disputes that characterization. Yet, policy advocates who reviewed the proposed legislation say the sweeping changes would erode already loosely enforced protections for more than 200 at-risk species, while giving the government greater power over scientists to decide what gets protected. 'This is really the most comprehensive undermining of the (Endangered Species Act) we've seen,' said Laura Bowman, a staff lawyer with environmental law charity Ecojustice. Last week, the province tabled an omnibus bill it says is aimed at speeding up new mining projects. As part of that bill, the government eyes immediate changes to the Endangered Species Act, which it ultimately plans to repeal and replace with a new law. Story continues below advertisement The process to obtain a permit under the current law is 'slow and complex,' the government's proposal said, and the changes would offer a 'reasonable, balanced approach to protecting species in Ontario.' Environmentalists say there's nothing balanced about the approach. View image in full screen A male Bobolink stands in grass near its nest, Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Denton, Neb. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel). JB The government wants to dramatically narrow what 'habitat' means and do away with requirements to create a strategy for how to recover at-risk species. It also appears to give itself greater power over an independent science-based committee to add and remove species from a protected list. 'I don't think this is a major benefit to any industry. I think… it's just an irrational vendetta against species that some industrial players are blaming for their delays,' said Bowman. The definition of habitat would change from the entire area needed for a species to survive, to just its nest or den and the area immediately surrounding it. The changes would also strip the government of a responsibility to develop recovery strategies and management plans for at-risk species. Story continues below advertisement They would also allow companies to start developing a project that could destroy habitat or kill at-risk species without first getting a permit. Instead, the government is proposing to move to a not-yet-defined 'registration-first approach' for all projects, which it says is already in place for most. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Critics fear registrations will only require broad, standardized measures to mitigate impacts to at-risk species, rather than project-specific permits that require a company to show how they plan to help. 'It's very simplistic, it's not rooted in the latest science,' said Anna Baggio, conservation director of Wildlands League. 'They're not even trying to pretend anymore, nature and biodiversity is just something in the way of development.' A spokesperson for Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd McCarthy said the proposed Species Conservation Act, which will replace the Endangered Species Act, will establish 'robust environmental protections by creating clear, enforceable rules for businesses to follow and strengthen the ability to enforce species conservation laws.' 'This includes creating a mandatory requirement to register their project and tough fines for non-compliance – there will be no tolerance for bad actors,' said Alex Catherwood. 0:54 Northumberland Land Trust secures large wetland in Brighton, Ont. The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario, also known as COSSARO, would continue to provide science-based advice on the listing of species, Catherwood said. Story continues below advertisement Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the new bill has caused him to rethink his plan to support the government's moves to help workers in the face of the US trade war. 'That goodwill gets undermined when you then use it to completely dismantle vital environmental protection and Indigenous consultation and consent,' Schreiner said. 'If you're an animal or plant in Ontario, this is a pretty bad day for you, but it's a bad day for people too because healthy ecosystems are vital to human survival and to undermine that I think is just reckless, dangerous, and short sighted.' Many First Nations have come out against the proposed changes designed to speed up mining in their traditional territories, though some are in support. The mining industry supports the changes. An industry association representing Ontario homebuilders also welcomed the changes and blamed permit delays in part on what it called a process that is 'expensive, slow, and unnecessarily complicated.' The new legislation would clear up the definition of endangered species and help 'increase protections while allowing approvals for vital projects to go forward in a timely manner,' said Andres Ibarguen, a spokesperson for the Ontario Home Builders Association. Between 2015 and 2021 it took on average 851 days to complete a development-related permit process, but as of August 2020 that number had come down to 256 days, the province's auditor general reported in 2021. Companies that complained to higher levels within the Environment Ministry were found to have received permits 43 per cent faster. Story continues below advertisement Permits were also delayed for some conservation work and fast-tracked for some developers, the audit found. Ministry staff suggested delays to a permit to help conserve the Massasauga rattlesnake likely contributed to the species becoming locally extinct, the report said. Premier Doug Ford's government has feverishly overhauled Ontario's nature protection and oversight rules in recent years in what it suggests is a bid to speed up the construction of homes, mines, highways and other infrastructure in Ontario. Ford teed off last year when asked about curbing environmental protections to get Highway 413 built, which included shrinking protected habitat for the red side dace, a fish in the project's path. 'Let's build the damn highway,' he said. 'There's millions of people stuck in their cars, backed up from here to Timbuktu, and you're worried about a grasshopper jumping across the highway. We need to start building and we're going to start building, simple as that.' Ontario's endangered species law, once considered a gold standard for its automatic protection for critical habitat and science-based assessments, has been repeatedly weakened by regulations, environmental groups say. Forestry companies have been exempted from the law since it was passed, a carveout made permanent during the pandemic despite the possible risks to endangered caribou. Since 2021, developers have been allowed to pay into a conservation fund instead of taking on-site measures to protect species. Story continues below advertisement That fund will now be wound down since the registration approach won't include the option to pay a fee, the government's proposal said. To date, none of the money had been spent on species protections. The government says the funds will still go toward activities 'in alignment' with species protection and conservation goals. It's also quadrupling a species conservation program to $20 million annually to support 'efforts to conserve and protect listed species,' said Catherwood, the minister's spokesperson. What protections do exist in law for at-risk species have been found to be laxly applied and enforced. The Environment Ministry has never turned down an application to harm a species or its habitat, the auditor general reported in 2021. Most approvals were granted automatically without review and no inspections were carried out to make sure companies followed their conditions once work started. The ministry also didn't consider the cumulative impact of permitting activities that could repeatedly harm the same species, the audit found. Blanding turtles, which have seen their numbers decline by 60 per cent over three generations largely due to habitat loss, had been impacted by more than 1,400 approvals from 2007 to 2021, the report found. Bobolink, a grassland songbird whose numbers have collapsed by 77 per cent since the 1970s, had been impacted by more than 2,000 approvals. Story continues below advertisement A 2023 follow-up report found the government had fully implemented four of the auditor's 52 recommendations. Seventeen had seen little or no progress and 22 would not be implemented.
Winnipeg Free Press
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ontario's new mining bill is a ‘vendetta' against species at risk: environmentalists
TORONTO – Ontario is moving to gut protections for endangered plants and animals as part of a mining bill, environmental groups say, with some calling it the most comprehensive attack on the province's at-risk species legislation in nearly two decades. The province disputes that characterization. Yet, policy advocates who reviewed the proposed legislation say the sweeping changes would erode already loosely enforced protections for more than 200 at-risk species, while giving the government greater power over scientists to decide what gets protected. 'This is really the most comprehensive undermining of the (Endangered Species Act) we've seen,' said Laura Bowman, a staff lawyer with environmental law charity Ecojustice. Last week, the province tabled an omnibus bill it says is aimed at speeding up new mining projects. As part of that bill, the government eyes immediate changes to the Endangered Species Act, which it ultimately plans to repeal and replace with a new law. The process to get a permit under the current law is 'slow and complex,' the government's proposal said, and the changes would offer a 'reasonable, balanced approach to protecting species in Ontario.' Environmentalists say there's nothing balanced about the approach. The government wants to dramatically narrow what 'habitat' means and do away with requirements to create a strategy for how to recover at-risk species. It also appears to give itself greater power over an independent science-based committee to add and remove species from a protected list. 'I don't think this is a major benefit to any industry. I think… it's just an irrational vendetta against species that some industrial players are blaming for their delays,' said Bowman. The definition of habitat would change from the entire area needed for a species to survive, to just its nest or den and the area immediately surrounding it. The changes would also strip the government of a responsibility to develop recovery strategies and management plans for at-risk species. They would also allow companies to start developing a project that could destroy habitat or kill at-risk species without first getting a permit. Instead, the government is proposing to move to a not-yet-defined 'registration-first approach' for all projects, which it says is already in place for most. Critics fear registrations will only require broad, standardized measures to mitigate impacts to at-risk species, rather than project-specific permits that require a company to show how they plan to help. 'It's very simplistic, it's not rooted in the latest science,' said Anna Baggio, conservation director of Wildlands League. 'They're not even trying to pretend anymore, nature and biodiversity is just something in the way of development.' A spokesperson for Environment, Conservation and Parks Minister Todd McCarthy said the proposed Species Conservation Act, which will replace the Endangered Species Act, will establish 'robust environmental protections by creating clear, enforceable rules for businesses to follow and strengthening the ability to enforce species conservation laws.' 'This includes creating a mandatory requirement to register their project and tough fines for non-compliance – there will be no tolerance for bad actors,' said Alex Catherwood. The Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario, also known as COSSARO, would continue to provide science-based advice on the listing of species, Catherwood said. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the new bill has caused him to rethink his plan to support the government's moves to help workers in the face of the U.S. trade war. 'That goodwill gets undermined when you then use it to completely dismantle vital environmental protection and Indigenous consultation and consent,' Schreiner said. 'If you're an animal or plant in Ontario, this is a pretty bad day for you, but it's a bad day for people too because healthy ecosystems are vital to human survival and to undermine that I think is just reckless, dangerous, and short sighted.' Many First Nations have come out against the proposed changes designed to speed up mining in their traditional territories, though some are in support. The mining industry supports the changes. An industry association representing Ontario homebuilders also welcomed the changes and blamed permit delays in part on what it called a process that is 'expensive, slow, and unnecessarily complicated.' The new legislation would clear up the definition of endangered species and help 'increase protections while allowing approvals for vital projects to go forward in a timely manner,' said Andres Ibarguen, a spokesman for the Ontario Home Builders Association. Between 2015 and 2021 it took on average 851 days to complete a development-related permit process, but as of August 2020 that number had come down to 256 days, the province's auditor general reported in 2021. Companies that complained to higher levels within the Environment Ministry were found to have received permits 43 per cent faster. Permits were also delayed for some conservation work and fast-tracked for some developers, the audit found. Ministry staff suggested delays to a permit to help conserve the Massasauga rattlesnake likely contributed to the species becoming locally extinct, the report said. Premier Doug Ford's government has feverishly overhauled Ontario's nature protection and oversight rules in recent years in what it suggests is a bid to speed up the construction of homes, mines, highways and other infrastructure in Ontario. Ford teed off last year when asked about curbing environmental protections to get Highway 413 built, which included shrinking protected habitat for the red side dace, a fish in the project's path. 'Let's build the damn highway,' he said. 'There's hundreds of thousands of people stuck in their cars, backed up from here to Timbuktu, and you're worried about a grasshopper jumping across the highway. We need to start building and we're going to start building, simple as that.' Ontario's endangered species law, once considered a gold standard for its automatic protection for critical habitat and science-based assessments, has been repeatedly weakened by regulations, environmental groups say. Forestry companies have been exempted from the law since it was passed, a carveout made permanent during the pandemic despite the possible risks to endangered caribou. Since 2021, developers have been allowed to pay into a conservation fund instead of taking on-site measures to protect species. That fund will now be wound down since the registration approach won't include the option to pay a fee, the government's proposal said. To date, none of the money had been spent on species protections. The government says the funds will still go toward activities 'in alignment' with species protection and conservation goals. It's also quadrupling a species conservation program to $20 million annually to support 'efforts to conserve and protect listed species,' said Catherwood, the minster's spokesperson. What protections do exist in law for at-risk species have been found to be laxly applied and enforced. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. The Environment Ministry has never turned down an application to harm a species or its habitat, the auditor general reported in 2021. Most approvals were granted automatically without review and no inspections were carried out to make sure companies followed their conditions once work started. The ministry also didn't consider the cumulative impact of permitting activities that could repeatedly harm the same species, the audit found. Blanding turtles, which have seen their numbers decline by 60 per cent over three generations largely due to habitat loss, had been impacted by more than 1,400 approvals from 2007 to 2021, the report found. Bobolink, a grassland songbird whose numbers have collapsed by 77 per cent since the 1970s, had been impacted by more than 2,000 approvals. A 2023 followup report found the government had fully implemented four of the auditor's 52 recommendations. Seventeen had seen little or no progress and 22 would not be implemented. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2025.
