Grasslands and the 2021 Federal Election – What You Can Do

The actions of the federal government have a huge impact on the future of our grasslands. Ask your candidates for their views on these issues and continue your active support on these policies as we go forward.

PPPI PROPOSALS FOR GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ACTION ON GRASSLANDS

1.     Public education on the roles of herbivores and other species in grasslands ecosystems, the value of native grasslands, their role in carbon sequestration, the current rapid rate of grassland decline and the ways to promote grassland conservation.

2.     National review to change provincial or federal agricultural policies creating hidden subsidies that ultimately drive the destruction of grassland and wetland habitats.

3.     Work with First Nations to develop an indigenous protected and conserved area in grassland ecoregions.

4.     Support ranchers raising cattle or bison on native grassland, with recognition and continued support of best rangeland management practices, and protect them from market forces that lead to the sale and ultimate conversion of native Prairie to cultivated crops.

5.     Improve Environmental Impact Assessment processes, broader definitions of what is assessed, more complete recognition of the accumulative impacts on native prairie and more inclusive public involvement.

• Declare that the protection of all native grassland ecosystems is in the national interest, due to the climate change, environmental, agronomic, social and community benefits these remaining grasslands provide.  This priority should be applied across decisions and operations of all government departments and agencies.

• Ensure that the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada protects the full extent of the grasslands affected and under consideration through the assessment process.

• For those projects being assessed or considered for assessment, ensure that all features, including the entire areal extent of native grassland ecosystems, will be addressed through the Tailored Impact Assessment Guidelines (TIAG), perhaps as a Valued Component. 

6.     Continue support for the Prairie Pastures Conservation Area in southwest Saskatchewan.

7.     Keep Crown grasslands publicly-owned and protected from development, including former PFRA and provincial pastures.

8.     Provide funds and expertise to support provincial efforts to conduct a complete inventory of our remaining native grasslands.

9.     Ensure Saskatchewan grasslands receive their portion of the 3 billion-dollar Canada Nature Fund to work with private land owners in preserving native grasslands.

10.  Withdraw all federal funding for the Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Project, which would effectively provide perverse incentives to plough native grassland in the region.

11.  Maintain National Wildlife Areas.

GET THE MESSAGE OUT

1.     Phone or email your candidates and speak to them personally if you can.

2.     Continue to talk to all candidates and elected representatives form all parties after the election.

3.     Write letters to the editor.

4.     Talk to your friends and neighbours.

5.     Support agricultural practices that preserve grasslands, by endorsing good government policies and through your agricultural purchases.

6.     Visit grasslands and invite friends or have events, as circumstances allow, so people can experience grasslands firsthand.

7.     And of course, support the work of PPPI and other organizations in preserving grasslands.