Montreal, November 8, 2021 – Today, the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced on his Twitter account that he will recommend an emergency order to protect the chorus frog in Longueuil, pursuant to the Species at Risk Act. The Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE) and the Société pour la nature et les parcs (SNAP Québec) welcome this announcement, which follows repeated requests and comes after the two organizations filed lawsuits on October 22, 2021 against the federal, provincial, and municipal governments. 

“The Minister’s formal commitment to recommend an order, albeit overdue, is a relief. Combined with the temporary suspension of work ordered by the Honourable Guylène Beaugé of the Superior Court of Quebec on October 29, 2021, this declaration by the Minister of Environment of Canada gives hope that the species’ habitat will soon be suitably protected. In the meantime, our two organizations are now asking the courts to extend the suspension of work,” affirms Geneviève Paul, executive director of the CQDE. 

“With a second intervention in five years by the federal government regarding chorus frogs, we hope that the Quebec government will finally understand the need to modernize its own tools for the protection of threatened or endangered species. Authorities must intervene quickly on the Longueuil worksite, taking corrective measures to ensure that the reproduction of the species is not compromised in the spring of 2022, notably by stopping the drainage of wetlands,” asserts Alain Branchaud, biologist and executive director at SNAP Québec. 

Although satisfied with a recommendation for an emergency order made pursuant to section 80 of the Species at Risk Act, we are of the opinion that an order pursuant to section 61 of the same act would be optimal, in particular to foster dialogue with the government of Quebec so as to ensure suitable protection of the habitat of species at risk on its territory. We invite the Minister to seriously consider this option. 

– 30 –

For more information

“Application for an injunction accepted: another battle won for chorus frogs” – Press release of October 29, 2021                                 

Ruling by the Superior Court of Quebec – October 29, 2021 (Available in French only)