Ottawa to protect habitat of endangered western chorus frog in Montreal suburb
Global News
The western chorus frog is a small species that breeds in temporary wetlands that are increasingly threatened by agriculture and development.
The federal government will intervene to preserve the habitat of an endangered frog south of Montreal, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Monday.
Guilbeault said in a statement on Twitter that he will recommend an emergency order to protect the western chorus frog, whose habitat is in peril because of a road construction project in Longueuil, Que., a suburb south of Montreal.
Guilbeault wrote that after assessing scientific evidence and conferring with department officials, he has decided the animal deserves protection under the Species at Risk Act.
Quebec environment groups reacted favourably to the announcement, which came after lawsuits seeking federal intervention were filed in late October.
The western chorus frog is a small species that breeds in temporary wetlands that are increasingly threatened by agriculture and development.
Environmental groups convinced the Quebec Superior Court that the threats to the western chorus frog were serious, and they obtained an injunction to stop roadwork in Longueuil for 10 days, due to end Monday.
On Monday, Genevieve Paul, executive director of the Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement, said that order has now been extended until Nov. 22, ensuring work won’t continue on the site.
