Comments on Recent Media Coverage

(December 2004).

On December 8th John Duncan MP Vancouver Island North, Official Opposition Critic for Natural Resources issued a press release that announced recommendations regarding the Sable Island Station.

Earlier this year a multi-departmental Working Group had been set up by the federal government to examine the government’s role in funding and management of the Station and the Island, and to make recommendations to a steering committee of Assistant Deputy Ministers. In his press release, Mr. Duncan stated that the Working Group’s report had been submitted and had recommended that the Sable Island Station remain open and that the federal government once again assume full responsibility for management of the Station.

Mr. Duncan said, “I applaud the Working Group and urge the government to adopt their recommendations.”

Mr. Duncan’s press release initiated a small flurry of media coverage on the 10th and 11th. Unfortunately the coverage did little to clarify the situation, and repeated some oft-mentioned misconceptions regarding the role of the Sable Island Preservation Trust (SIPT) (see Sable short on cash, by Keith Bonnell, The Canadian Press, December 8th).

Although the SIPT employs some of the staff at the Sable Island Station, all the funds for staff salaries are provided by Environment Canada, with some assistance from the Government of Nova Scotia. Since it was set up in 1998, the SIPT has not actually raised any funds to pay Station staff, nor has it provided any funds for Station supplies or operations.

When the SIPT was established with the help of Environment Canada, it was a well-intentioned attempt to address funding shortfalls and stability issues for the Sable Island Station. However, instead of developing partnerships and raising funds to reduce the cost to the taxpayer, the SIPT actually increased the cost. The SIPT has an office and staff on the mainland, and has other expenditures including insurance, legal costs, travel, and workshop expenses for board members. Since most of these mainland expenses are also covered by funds from Environment Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia, the outcome is that having the SIPT involved actually increases the cost to the taxpayer by more than $100,000 annually. This is a liability for the Sable Island Station.

Although it was not clear in the article by CP reporter Keith Bonnell, during November the SIPT announced that it had requested the federal government take over funding and management of operations at the Sable Island Station. Since Environment Canada has been funding and managing the Station all along, ending the “paper” relationship with the SIPT would be a very positive step, bringing clarity to a somewhat muddled situation, and reducing the overall cost to the federal government.

In response to the recent media coverage, Mark Butler of the Ecology Action Centre said, “The Sable Island Preservation Trust is an experiment which did not work and we are not surprised. It has always been our position that this was a job for government, not a government funded NGO or the private sector. We welcome the apparent recommendation that the federal government once again assume full responsibility from the Trust. There is definitely a role for a group to champion the interests of the Island and its conservation. However, to be an effective and independent advocate for the Island, such a group cannot be reliant on government funding, as the Trust is currently. It must be largely independent from those interests such as government or industry whose interests at times may run counter to those of the ecological integrity of the Island.”

The Ecology Action Centre and the Sable Island Green Horse Society have been working with concerned citizens and scientists to ensure that the government maintains a year-round skilled staff on Sable Island. Although the Working Group’s report is one of several sources of input and advice being reviewed by the steering committee of ADMs, we are encouraged by its recommendation as reported by Mr. Duncan. Furthermore, Mr. Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, has been supportive in his recent comments to media. When interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen (Scientists come to defense of Sable Island, by Carsten Knox, November 24th), Mr. Regan said that he agrees with scientists on the importance of the Station for research, and that he is committed to maintaining the federal presence on Sable Island. Mr. Regan added “To me, it is important that the Government of Canada support this work, and I’m working toward that.”

The Ecology Action Centre, the Sable Island Green Horse Society, and concerned citizens and scientists hope the Government of Canada will soon follow up with continued funding and direct management for the Sable Island Station, and we look forward to an announcement, in the new year, regarding the government’s plan for Sable Island and the Station.