President’s Message

I hope everyone had a good Earth Day – there was a lot happening in Saskatoon this year! We should be learning the Federal election results any day now! I know we are counting on the next government to keep our natural world in mind!

I am very excited to be working with a new energized executive too – We’ve had our first meeting and things look good for a very solid year!

Two big days coming up: World Migratory Bird Day is on Saturday May 10th, with a very appropriate theme this year – Creating bird-friendly cities and communities. The WMBD writes that they “will raise awareness about the many challenges migratory birds face due to human activities and expanding urban development. The campaign will advocate for strategic urban planning and conservation efforts that incorporate bird-friendly practices, making sure that our communities become havens for these remarkable travellers.” So relevant to our community here in Saskatoon!

The second big day is Saturday May 24th – our annual spring bird count! It’s a great opportunity to get out and count birds that are travelling through! This is citizen science at its best! We know bird numbers are falling and so learning more about their challenges is foremost in our conservation efforts! Come on out and volunteer if you can!

I have lots to talk about since my last column – first the city council action on coyotes this past month. I wrote city council saying that I have grave concerns about the direction City Council is taking on coyotes & feeding of wildlife. It appears that the City Council will take a rather drastic and alarming response regarding coyotes in the city without consulting local groups who have expertise and experience in this area. This will result in a missed opportunity to develop a holistic policy of people and nature co-existing in our city.

I asked City Council to fully engage local expertise on wildlife in the city including Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation which receives thousands of calls each year, with a handful being about coyotes specifically, as well with Wild about Saskatoon and specifically Saskatoon UWIN, a local wildlife monitoring group who has spent many years monitoring wildlife in Saskatoon through remote cameras. UWIN exists “to conduct the science needed to ensure that humans and wildlife can co-exist in urban areas, and that cities can contribute to biodiversity conservation around the world.”

I offered that the Saskatoon Nature Society would be more than happy to help move this discussion towards being more proactive and positive as we continue to live in this beautiful city with our wild animal neighbours!

Second, I am alarmed about the provincial government’s current intentions to amend its Environmental Management and Protection Act (EMPA). Recently I found out the government is more than 2 years into its work on this, and we learned that 147 specific invitations were sent out to organizations for comment but sadly only 11 responded. This is hardly reassuring! I understand Nature Sask and other groups knew nothing about this undertaking!

Some of the concerns I have about proposed changes include the demise of the Saskatchewan State of Environment Report. This Report is a holistic thoughtful approach to monitoring our Saskatchewan environment – let’s keep it and actually improve it!!

I am also worried about what might happen to wetlands protection. We understand that Water Security Agency has just come out with a new policy, untested yet; we need to see how it actually protects our wetlands. This is a very integral part of our landscape that needs the utmost protection – it must be kept under the purview of EMPA!

I had several other concerns that I would be happy to share with members – please send me a note and I will send you a copy of my complete letter. This is a very important issue that we will need to watch and work with other provincial organizations to bring to a beneficial solution!

Amazingly on top of all this as I wrote last month, the provincial government released their so-called Wetlands policy. I urge all members to read this agricultural wetlands document as it will be used as a stand-in for a comprehensive wetlands policy at every turn! One obvious shortcoming is the dismissal of a “no net loss” policy that ensured that there was a commitment to maintaining the amount of wetlands we have. This is a common policy in other provinces but our government maintains we have lots so we can afford to lose some – dangerous thinking indeed! This is my recommendation for reading for May as we travel about and appreciate the role wetlands play in a healthy Saskatchewan landscape!

Have a great spring – enjoy the birds and the flowers! I hope to see many of you out at the bird count and at our annual spring picnic!!