In 2018, thanks to petitions signed by you, the ministers responsible for the last surviving 73 Southern Resident Killer Whales decided that the species faced imminent threats to their very survival, and recovery — including from the impacts of shipping traffic and a shortage of Chinook salmon prey.
When Cabinet approved the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX), they promised to implement the Canada Energy Regulator’s 16 recommendations to protect the Salish Sea from a sevenfold increase in oil tanker traffic.
Six years later, TMX is operational, and the recommendations to reduce the impacts of shipping noise or vessel strike risk on the Southern Residents have not been implemented.
In November 2024, the responsible ministers confirmed that the Southern Residents still face imminent threats to their survival and recovery, despite the measures announced last time in 2018 – and the threats are poised to increase due to TMX and other new projects.
What’s more, the federal Cabinet has now decided not to use its strongest tool to take urgent action for this species by rejecting the emergency order recommendation that the ministers made based on their imminent threat opinion.
While Cabinet backtracks on its promises, and declines to use the tools available , we inch closer to losing these iconic whales.
However, there are still actions the federal government can take, even if Cabinet refuses to issue an emergency order – they have the capability to enact other measures that can change course for this species. The orcas urgently need your support.
Write to the Ministers responsible and demand they prioritize the Southern Residents and the urgent protections they need now.