A federal judge has ordered Ottawa to rethink its strategy to preserve an endangered shorebird.
In a decision released yesterday, Justice Richard Southcott sent the piping plover recovery plan back to the federal environment minister for âreconsideration.â The judge wrote that federal lawyers had failed to âintelligibly respondâ to the concerns raised by Nature Nova Scotia and the East Coast Environmental Law Association about the plan approved by the minister in 2022.
Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
The plaintiffs argued Ottawaâs system of protecting specific sections of beaches in Atlantic Canada and Quebec was confusing and vague â and they asked the minister to go back to protecting entire beaches as piping plover habitat.
Trending Now Jonathan Joss, âKing of the Hillâ actor, killed in Texas shooting Canadian Tire sells Helly Hansen to U.S. company for $1.3B Piping plovers are small shorebirds that nest primarily on sand, gravel or cobblestone beaches.
The court heard that there are only between 170 to 190 nesting pairs left, well below the 2022 planâs goal of 310 pairs.
Story continues below advertisement This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 3, 2025.
More on Science and Tech More videos As Manitoba wildfires rage, premier asks more people to evacuate No rain forecast as crews battle Flin Flon wildfire Vancouverites love crows despite the dive-bombing, study finds As wildfires rage, what can you do to prepare and reduce your risks? Manitoba wildfires force new evacuations, air quality warnings Shifting winds âdramaticallyâ impacting Alberta wildfire fight Whale protection program expanded Stowaway porcupine transported from northern B.C. to Kelowan in plane wreckage.