The House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development is conducting a study on federal protected areas, looking at how the full range of federal protected areas can work together to achieve both international conservation targets and domestic legislative objectives. The conclusions of this discussion will help shape government policy towards conservation areas in the critical years to come.
As part of the Committee’s discussion, WCEL has submitted a brief that highlights the legislative changes needed to expand and strengthen marine protection in Canada, as well as the opportunity to build on existing work towards marine protected areas (MPAs) in BC.
Progress on MPAs in Canada has been remarkably slow. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Other countries have made astonishing progress in a short time frame. Canada can too, and British Columbia is a good place to start.