Species At Risk Act Under Fire From Commissioner

The provincial government is being accused of watering down the Species At Risk Act.
Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller released a report Wednesday that’s critical of changes made to the act over the summer.
Miller says forestry and mining companies no longer have to post their permits on the Environmental Bill of Rights, resulting in less accountability to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the public.
Miller says by eliminating the permitting process, the MNR has lost its ability to say “no” to any activity that may potentially harm a species at risk.
He adds the changes have allowed companies to regulate themselves.
Miller notes the public will no longer be involved in key decisions and may not know what decisions were even made.