Montreal, October 13, 2021 – On September 29, 2021, SNAP Québec and the Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE) formally asked the Canadian government to intervene to protect chorus frog habitats in Longueuil. This demand followed a series of public interventions by various community stakeholders and the general public, each calling on the federal government to act quickly to protect this population of chorus frogs threatened by the extension of Boulevard Béliveau.  

Faced with the urgency to act caused by the unbridled pursuit of work on the ground, we are asking Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change to recommend– by October 20, 2021 –to the Governor in Council to issue an order protecting the habitat under the Species at Risk Act. Otherwise, SNAP and CQDE will formally take the necessary legal steps in Federal Court to force the Canadian government to take action. 

“Once the Governor in Council receives a recommendation from the Minister of the Environment, nothing more is required to issue the order that triggers the protection measures under the Species at Risk Act.  Since the Quebec Minister of the Environment has already abdicated his role as trustee for the protection of the chorus frog by not using his existing powers to prevent irreparable harm to a living species, this leaves us with no choice but to demand federal intervention,” explains Geneviève Paul, Executive Director of the CQDE.  

“There is still time to act to protect the population of chorus frogs in Longueuil, and all conditions are met to legitimize a quick intervention by the federal government. The deafening silence by Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change has lasted long enough; he must clearly announce his intentions and take the final steps leading to an order,” insists Alain Branchaud, biologist and Executive Director of SNAP Québec.

SNAP and the CQDE have obtained a map of the wildlife corridor project* which is currently guiding the work to extend Boulevard Béliveau and for a future housing development. The map dated from 2019 clearly indicates that most chorus frog breeding ponds will eventually be destroyed if the federal government fails to intervene. Since 2015, the sector has been designated as an essential habitat, meaning a habitat necessary for the survival or recovery of the species.

– 30 –

 

*Map of the wildlife corridor: https://www.cqde.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/carte_projet_-corridor_-faunique_rfg_2015-19_biffe.pdf