Environment Canada is expressing concern for wildlife habitat, particularly that of woodland caribou, due to mining development. Peter Flood, a member of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, says caribou have been steadily disappearing across the country. Environment Canada has proposed a recovery strategy that restricts federal land use if operations disturb more than 35 per cent of the habitat.
But mining associations feel the strategy will halt future investment in northern Saskatchewan and are asking government and business leaders for support. A decision from Ottawa on the Environment Canada proposal isn’t expected for several months.