Yes, ironic, isn't it. This law finally gains approval in Canada just
when the Orc/Human hybrids presently in control of the US government
appear to be on the verge of the final gutting of the US Endangered
Species Act, along with virtually every other effective legislation
or regulation established for the protection of the environment over
in the last 30 years. Our North American birds remain in grave long
term and, in many cases, short term peril. At a critical moment in
the earth's history, we now have a president and Congress that
advocate unrestricted cutting of forests, weakening of laws
protecting air and water quality, wetlands, and roadless areas,
outright repeal of any and all controls on human population growth,
and repeal of laws providing protection for endangered species as
well as those laws mandating citizen review of environmentally
damaging activities. May this set back in the US be short lived!

Mark



>Tweeters,
>
>On December 12, the Species At Risk Act (Bill C-5) received Royal
>Assent, the final step in its passage through the Canadian Parliament.
>This symbolic step-- the approval of the legislation by the
>Governor-General (the Queen's representative in Canada)-- takes place
>only after legislation has been passed by both houses of Parliament
>(the House of Commons and the Senate).
>
>Until now, Canada has had no federal legislation to protect threatened
>and endangered animals and plants. The Species At Risk Act (SARA) is
>similar in intent to the U.S. Endangered Species Act, though it is
>considered weaker in some respects. However, this is still a huge step
>forward for bird conservation in Canada and North America.
>
>The next step is the development of regulations that specify how the
>act will be implemented, and their approval by the federal Cabinet. It
>is expected that regulations will be approved and the Act will come
>into force sometime in 2003.
>
>For the full news release issued by Environment Canada, click on the
>following URL:
>
>http://www.ec.gc.ca/press/2002/021212_n_e.htm .
>
>There are several links at the end of the press release that provide
>further information for those who are interested.
>
>Wayne C. Weber
>Kamloops, BC, Canada
>contopus at shaw.ca


--
Mark Egger
Seattle, WA

megger at attbi.com