NDP questions why only lakes in Conservative ridings deserve protection

Changes to Navigable Waters Act favour Conservative ridings

The Conservatives are once again putting politics ahead of Canadians. Under proposed changes to the Navigable Waters Act, thousands of lakes will lose their protection and nearly 90 per cent of the remaining lakes are in Conservative ridings.

“Clearly they know that this is a problem, that’s why they’re protecting their own backyard,” said New Democrat Environment critic Megan Leslie (Halifax). “We have real concerns about the motivations behind these changes. Why are nearly all the protected lakes in Conservative ridings?”

Of the thousands of lakes across Canada only 97 will be protected and all but 10 are in or next to Conservative ridings.

“When it comes to making public policy decisions, the Conservatives think

about politics first, then their friends and last of all about the impact on Canadians,” said deputy Environment critic, Anne Minh Thu Quach (Beauharnois – Salaberry). “This is a clear abuse of public trust and Canadians deserve better.”