Last month, Canadians elected a majority Liberal government. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made big changes to the Environment portfolio, electing Catherine McKenna as the new Minister for Environment and Climate Change. With the decision, we’re hopeful that nearly a decade of environmental apathy has come to an end.

As part of the Liberals campaign platform, Mr. Trudeau promised that he will review changes to the Fisheries Act and Navigable Waters Protection Act, restore lost protections and incorporate modern safeguards. Canadians must urge him to remain steadfast on these commitments. 

While damage to Canadian marine wildlife and ecosystems has already been done, a quick and dedicated reversal of cuts should minimize the harm to the waterways that Canadians take pride in, and that a number of Canadians rely on for their livelihoods.

In 1882, the Government of Canada passed the Navigable Waters Protection Act, stating that no-one could block, alter or destroy any water deep enough to float a canoe without federal approval. In 2012, the Conservative government dismantled that law, now allowing large corporations building pipelines or other industrial projects to bypass this step. 

These changes in reducing federal oversight demonstrate further deterioration of Canada’s environment, leading to poorer habitats for our aquatic life. Without adequate protection from large-scale industrial development, these lakes, rivers and streams face the threat of having their fish ecosystems destroyed.

The Act once protected 2.5 million lakes and rivers across the country. In its current incarnation? Only 159. That is the removal of legal protection for over 99 per cent of Canada’s lakes and rivers.

In 2013, the Conservatives made sweeping changes to the Fisheries Act, allowing for the dumping of harmful substances into waterways. This massive change threatens all Canadian freshwater fish species. The decision came despite widespread criticism and opposition from Canadian scientists.

Experts say that the Fisheries Act used to be one of the strongest laws this country had to preserve and protect Canadian marine ecosystems. Indeed, it is one of the country’s oldest environmental laws, as the early founders of Canada realized the importance of clean and lively waterways, an importance that carries through to this day.