Opinion: Government poised to weaken Canada’s Species at Risk Act

In early May, the federal government released a discussion paper proposing ways to accelerate approval of major industrial projects in the name of strengthening Canada’s economy and sovereignty. Buried within the paper is a proposal to override section-73(3)(c) of the Species at Risk Act, commonly known as the “jeopardy clause.” This provision prohibits the federal government from authorizing activities that are likely to jeopardize the survival or recovery of endangered specie