The management of wildlife is spear-headed by the provincial
government under its Wildlife Act. However, the federal government has claimed
some role in protecting wildlife, and particularly endangered species, through
the Canada
Wildlife Act,
passed in 1973, and, more recently, the Species At
Risk Act.
The Canadian Wildlife Service, a
branch of Environment Canada, administers the Canada
Wildlife Act. It sets out general
rules for how the federal government can work with provincial government,
municipal governments and other organizations to research and conserve
wildlife. In addition, it gives the
Canadian Wildlife Service separate powers to create and manage areas for the
protection of wildlife.
The federal government can turn land that it owns over to
the Canadian Wildlife Service to manage it for wildlife. The Canadian Wildlife Service also has the
power to buy or lease land to be managed for wildlife, or to receive land for
this purpose as a tax-deductible gift or donation (see Environment Canada’s EcoGift Website for
more information on how this might occur).
Under a regulation created under the Act (the National
Wildlife Area Regulation), these areas can be designated as National
Wildlife Areas. The federal government
will consider the national and international significance of a site in deciding
whether to designate it as a National Wildlife Area.
A wide range of activities, from hunting to disturbing
wildlife habitat, are prohibited in a National Wildlife Area without a permit
(which would need to be issued by the Canadian Wildlife Service). The Canadian Wildlife Service Website
provides a map
of the existing National Wildlife Areas in B.C.
Areas managed for migratory birds can be created either
under the Canada Wildlife Act or the Migratory
Birds Convention Act (in which case they are called Migratory Bird
Sanctuaries).
The Canada Wildlife Act also provides for the creation of
Marine Wildlife Areas, to be managed for the protection of marine
wildlife. Marine Wildlife Areas are
more than 12 nautical miles from land (areas closer to the shore are designated
as National Wildlife Areas).
Marine Wildlife Areas are very similar to two other types of
marine protection used by the federal government: Marine Protected Areas,
designated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada under the Oceans
Act; and National Marine Conservation Areas, designated by Parks Canada
under the Canada National Marine Conservation Act.
Environment Canada may establish partnerships through
agreements with provinces, municipal authorities, or any other organization or
person to undertake wildlife research, conservation, interpretation programs,
and measures. Agreements involving
parties other than a provincial government will require the approval of the
provincial government.
The Minister may, in cooperation with one or more provincial
governments, take measures to protect any species of wildlife in danger of
extinction. However, with the enactment
of the Species At Risk Act coordination of
endangered species protection will probably be carried out under that Act.
Related Guide Pages:
·
Wildlife Values
·
Endangered Species
·
Species at Risk Act
For More Information about the
Canada Wildlife Act:
·
Text of the Canada Wildlife Act text
and the National
Wildlife Area Regulation.
·
Canadian
Wildlife Service website. See
especially the publication entitled “National Wildlife
Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries”.
·
Canadian Wildlife Service regional office: (604) 946-8546.
