Groups seek court clout to force federal action on environmental laws

VANCOUVER – Environmental groups are in a federal court in Vancouver today to try and force the federal government to abide by its own Species At Risk Act.

Ecojustice, on behalf of five groups, says Ottawa has so far failed to prepare recovery strategies for several species of endangered wildlife.

The groups say these already-endangered species are further threatened by projects like the Northern Gateway pipeline.

Pacific humpback whales have been recognized as endangered, but it wasn’t until late 2013 — after a federal review panel stopped hearing evidence — that the federal government published a recovery strategy four-and-a-half years after it was due.

The Nechako white sturgeon, marbled murrelet and southern mountain caribou are also endangered but no recovery plans have yet been filed, although the plans are required under the legislation.

Devon Page of Ecojustice says without recovery strategies, it’s impossible for regulators to consider the full environmental impact of major projects like the pipeline.