Re: “Ottawa spending millions to help endangered orcas,” March 16.
In a typically Canadian fashion, our federal government says it will spend $9.1 million to develop and test technologies to alert vessels to the presence of whales. However, there’s no mention of actually implementing such a system — if it’s even found to be practical — or the time frame to complete this study. The government states it will spend about $3.1 million on several other research projects, most of which will only reinforce what is already known about issues affecting the health of the southern resident orca population.
In stark contrast, the governor of Washington state has directed his agencies to take immediate and longer-term steps to protect these iconic animals, clearly recognizing the seriousness of the situation faced by these orcas.
The timing of the announcement of these Canadian projects appears to be a thinly disguised attempt by Prime Minster Justin Trudeau to suppress opposition to the Kinder Morgan pipeline project, perhaps itself the biggest threat to the future of our local orcas.
It’s unfortunate the southern resident group knows nothing about borders — they’d obviously be better off living full time in the waters of Washington state.
Mark Perry
Former orca trainer
Salt Spring Island
