Canada's Neighbors Will Investigate Refusal to Aid Polar Bear

UK Daily Mail: drifting at sea

The threat posed to the polar bear's survival as a species by the melting Arctic ice cape is now undeniable. Yet Canada, for reasons undoubtably related to economics refused to give Ursus maritimus full protection under its endangered species law. The United States and Mexico by the authority of the North American free trade agreement have asked for an investigation into Canada's decision to give only limited protection to an iconic species that faces decimation because of global warming. The United States, after pressure from conservation groups, declared polar bears within its territory an endangered species in 2008. Canada only recognized the bear as "species of special concern" in 2011. Trophy hunting in Canada is still big business despite the fact that USGS estimates two-thirds of the world's polar bear population will die off due to starvation. Polar bears need sea ice to hunt for its main prey, seals, and sea ice is rapidly disappearing in the Arctic. A USGS study said several polar bear populations within Canada will disappear entirely or be severely decimated.

The trade agreement's Central Environmental Commission said there were questions about whether Canada's pro-development government used best available science to make its decision The Center for Biological Diversity which petitioned for the investigation said Canada's decision to give the bear only third tier consideration was not adequate since it offers little in the way of real protection.  Canada's environmental record has lately come under international scrutiny. It has been criticized for dropping out of the Kyoto Protocol and expanding Alberta tar sands mining. The Center for Global Development ranked Canada last among the worlds 27 richest countries for its poor environmental record.  Conservative prime minister Peter Harper has been accused of muzzling government scientists when their opinions do not fit his energy development agenda. A new regulation requires Canadian government scientists to submit their work to a department head even after acceptance by a peer science journal. CEC has given Canada sixty days to respond to its request for a factual record of how Canada reached its decision to deny polar bears maximum legal protection.