GATINEAU, QC, April 30,
2024 /CNW/ - The Honourable Steven Guilbeault,
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has issued the
following statement in response to the measures announced today by
the Government of Quebec for the
Boreal and Mountain Caribou in the Gaspé Peninsula.
"I would like to thank the Government of Quebec for presenting their plans before the
May 1 deadline. However, several
critical elements are missing, particularly the Quebec government's August 2022 commitment to reduce the rate of
disturbance in caribou habitat so that at least 65 percent of the
territory for each caribou population is undisturbed.
"In addition, today's announcement does not mention several
caribou populations. The Government of Quebec must publish a strategy for all Boreal
Caribou populations in Quebec,
including immediate interim measures.
"Caribou are emblematic of Canada, and further measures are needed to
ensure their survival. We remain open to supporting the Government
of Quebec in implementing measures
to restore and protect the Boreal and Gaspé Caribou. These
discussions can continue once the plans have been evaluated.
"Caribou are of great cultural and spiritual importance to
Indigenous peoples, and we are continuing our productive
discussions with Indigenous leaders in Quebec. We recognize their important role in
wildlife conservation and the need to take their traditional
knowledge into account when developing and implementing measures to
protect and restore caribou.
"The Boreal and Gaspé Caribou are unique in Canada. Their extinction is something we will
never be able to fix, and we cannot afford to ignore this
possibility. We are collectively responsible for their survival,
and we cannot fail. Our success will be measured when these
populations are prosperous and self-sufficient. We look forward to
working with the Government of Quebec and Indigenous peoples to make this
happen."
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada