January 23, 1998
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

Public Consultation on Proposed Endangered Species Legislation kicks off in Corner Brook, Monday, January 26, 1998

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, is pleased to announce the dates for the consultations regarding a proposed Endangered Species Act for the province.

"We want to hear from the people of Newfoundland and Labrador in order to hear what they feel we should include in the proposed legislation. We believe that this new Act will enable the province to do more to protect endangered species," said Mr. Aylward. "While the Wildlife Act and Regulations provide general protection for wild animals, it does not currently include plantlife. Currently there is no act or regulation in this province specifically designed for the protection of species at risk. This new legislation is intended to provide that protection."

Provincial Endangered Species legislation is necessary for the following reasons:

(1)To protect endangered species which currently have no legal protection of any kind.
(2)To strengthen existing protection measures for those endangered species which currently have some protection, however, often it is insufficient to ensure survival of the species, and,
(3)To ensure habitat protection for endangered species. Habitat is crucial for the protection and recovery of endangered species, and this is not adequately protected under current regulations.

"The consultation process is being conducted prior to the drafting of any legislation," said the minister. "We prefer to hear from the people first, before we write the Act in legal terminology."

Copies of a draft consultation paper have been circulated to interested organizations and individuals prior to the consultation meetings. To facilitate discussion, the Wildlife Division have provided a draft list of possible provisions that could be included in the proposed Act. A cross-Canada survey provided a variety of possibilities to be discussed and considered at these meetings.

"The proposed legislation will fulfill the province's commitment to the National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk, signed in fall 1996," said Minister Aylward. "The development of this legislation is a priority for this government. We look forward to the input from the people of this province which will help us move forward in preparing endangered species legislation for Newfoundland and Labrador."

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PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

Public consultations on the proposed Endangered Species Act will begin on Monday, January 26, 1998, in Corner Brook at 8 p.m. at the Glynmill Inn with Kevin Aylward, Minister responsible for Wildlife presenting a draft consultation paper of the proposed legislation. The complete schedule of consultations will be:

January 26 Corner Brook Glynmill Inn 8 pm

27 Stephenville Holiday Inn 8 pm

28 Plum Point Plum Point Hotel 8 pm

February 2 St. John's Holiday Inn 8 pm

3 Clarenville Clarenville Inn 8 pm

4 Gander Albatross Hotel 8 pm

5 Grand Falls Mount Peyton Hotel 8 pm

February 9 Labrador City Two Seasons Hotel 8 pm

10 Goose Bay The Aurora Hotel 8 pm

For copies of the public consultation paper, contact Joe Brazil, Endangered Species Biologist at (709) 729-3773, fax at (709) 729-4989 or e-mail at jbrazil@wild.dnr.gov.nf.ca, or Anna Buffinga, (709) 729-3717, fax at (709) 729-3374 or e-mail at buffinga.dnr.gov.nf.ca.

The document can also be viewed on the government home page at: /forest/species.htm/

Contact: David Wells (Communications) (709) 729-6183