February 24, 1999 (Toronto) - In the largest national scientific sign-on letter in recent history, six hundred and forty Canadian scientists have called on Prime Minister Chretien to protect the habitats of endangered species in Canada. The list of signatories demanding action includes scientists from every province across the country, including the well-known Dr. David Suzuki and Dr. David Schindler, who in 1998 became the first Canadian to receive the Volvo Environment Prize. The letter was also signed by 13 Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, the most respected scientific body in the country.

As the federal government prepares to introduce new endangered species legislation, the scientists are asking that the Liberals undertake to protect the places where endangered species live. Habitat protection is a key element that was missing from the Liberal's last attempt at endangered species legislation, Bill C-65, which died on the Order Paper in 1997 and was widely condemned as too weak.

The main threat to over 80% of endangered species is the destruction of their habitat - the areas where they feed, breed, and rear their young. With new legislation expected from the Environment Minister as early as April 1999, Canadian scientists are urging the Liberals to create a national legal standard for habitat protection for all species-at-risk, including those that range across Canada's international borders.

"It is indefensible that an endangered Grizzly bear is legally protected in the U.S., but as soon as it wanders into Alberta or B.C., it can be legally hunted," stated Dr. Schindler.

"The last bill would have protected only a species' nest or den, but not its habitat. That's like protecting your bedroom, but allowing the rest of your house and neighbourhood to be bulldozed," said Dr. Jamie Smith of the Centre for Biodiversity Research at the University of British Columbia.

Canadian scientists also rebuked the federal government for allowing political interference in the process used to list species-at-risk. Scientists fear that as with the last proposed federal bill, listing decisions could be made by the federal cabinet, who would be free to ignore or over-ride the scientific recommendations of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Also, in a recent decision, Environment Minister Christine Stewart stripped COSEWIC's independent scientists of their voting rights. This means that almost all COSEWIC members will now be government scientists, who could well be subject to pressure not to list politically embarrassing species.

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For more information, please contact:

Dr. Roberta Fulthorpe, University of Toronto, (416) 287-7221

A copy of the letter can be obtained at: http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/biodiversity

Regional Contacts:

British Columbia

. Dr. Jamie Smith, UBC Centre for Biodiversity Research (604)822-3363 smith@zoology.ubc.ca

. Dr. Geoff Scudder (FRSC), UBC Centre for Biodiversity Research (604)822-3682 scudder@zoology.ubc.ca

Alberta

. Dr. David Schindler (FRSC), Dept of Biological Sciences, U of A (403)492-1291 (403)325-3770 (home office) d.schindler@ualberta.ca

Newfoundland

. Dr. Bill Montevecchi, Professor and Chair, Biopsychology, Memorial University (709)737-7673

. Dr. Allan Stein, Professor, Chemistry, Memorial University (709) 737-8747

Nova Scotia

. Dr. Tom Herman, Professor, Biology, Co-Director of the Centre for Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Acadia University (902) 678-0383

Quebec

. Dr. Gilles Seutin, Department of Geography, McGill University (514) 398-4304

Ontario

. Dr. Don McAllister, Editor, Global Biodiversity, Canadian Museum of Nature (613) 264-8986

. Dr. Mart Gross, Professor, Zoology, University of Toronto (416) 978-3838

. Dr. Dawn Bazely, Associate Professor, Biology, York University work(416)736-2100 ext. 20109 home(416) 588-7133 cell(416) 579-6610

. Dr. Erica Nol, Chair, Biology Department, Trent University (705) 748-1048