Can Carney fast-track a pipeline while also protecting endangered orcas?
Despite government commitments to protect the southern resident killer whales, environmentalists warn it may be impossible to do so while pursuing 'national interest' projects.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith agreed to fast-track the controversial new oil pipeline project while committing to protect the endangered southern resident killer whales in the Salish Sea. However, environmentalists remain skeptical about the ability to strike a balance between the economic benefits of the pipeline and the protection of the whales' habitat.
The federal government recently gave notice that it intends to designate the proposed pipeline as a "national interest" project, allowing for exemptions from certain environmental laws, including the Fisheries Act, Species At Risk Act, and Impact Assessment Act. Environmental groups argue that this could lead to the protection measures for the southern resident killer whales being overridden if the pipeline assessment finds potential harm to the whales.
The whales, with less than 75 remaining in the Salish Sea, face numerous threats, including underwater noise from commercial vessels, which is among the top risks to their survival. Despite commitments from the federal and provincial governments, environmentalists question whether a proper balance can be achieved between the concerns of economic growth and the preservation of the endangered whales.
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