Fish Habitat Protection

WHEREAS the federal government, by passage of Bill C-38 has removed the rule against Harmfully Altering, Disrupting or Destroying HADD fish habitat with a general requirement not to cause serious harm to fisheries; AND WHEREAS the new, generalized and simple language of serious harm does not adequately define or provide enough protection for natural, aquatic habitat; AND WHEREAS allowing developers to simply substitute the natural, aquatic habitat with alternative locations will not replace the need for an intact ecosystem with adequate levels of biodiversity to support aquatic survival: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provisions of Bill C-38 respecting fish habitat protection be removed and replaced by the pre-existing HADD rules so that better protection of aquatic habitat is contained in Canadian law.