Wildlife Protection

EDMONTON – A Joint Review Panel recommends approval of Teck’s Frontier Oil Sands Mine project, despite acknowledgments of a long list of adverse environmental impacts, including high risks to wildlife that use the area 

In the same month that the UN warns Canada of swift action required to stop the degradation of Wood Buffalo National Park, a massive 290 sq-km open-pit oil sands mine project has been recommended for approval, which would place it just 30-km south of the Park’s borders. The project would be the largest of its kind in Alberta. The provincial-federal Joint Review Panel found the project to be in the public’s interest, despite the findings that it,

[…] is likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects to wetlands, old-growth forests, wetland- and old-growth-reliant species at risk, the Ronald Lake bison herd, and biodiversity.” And “likely to result in significant adverse effects to the asserted rights, use of lands and resources, and culture of indigenous groups who use the project area. The proposed mitigation measures have not been proven to be effective or to fully mitigate project effects on the environment or on indigenous rights, use of lands and resources, and culture.” Read more about Panel recommends approval of Teck’s Frontier Oil Sands Mine project, just 30-km south of Wood Buffalo National Park

Brooks Motorcycle Club and its Vice President have been fined a total of $70,000 under the Species at Risk Act and the Fisheries Act for organizing a motocross race that crossed through North and South Racehorse Creeks several times, seriously harming and causing the death of young bull trout and threatened westslope cutthroat trout. Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) applauds the decision for defending Alberta’s imperiled native trout and upholding the intent of the Species at Risk Act, as well as recognizing the damage that motorized use can have on fish habitat. Read more about Motorcycle Club Fined for Killing Threatened Fish