Environmental groups are urging for better enforcement to safeguard endangered species in Alberta following Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) pausing an inquiry due to resource constraints. DFO’s two-year probe into an unauthorized bridge constructed by Spray Lake Sawmills over the Highwood River in Kananaskis Country revealed evidence of potential federal law violations and disruption of critical habitat for threatened bull trout, as per internal documents disclosed by CBC.
Despite on-site DFO staff advocating for pursuing charges in the Highwood investigation, the department redirected its focus to other cases due to limited resources, as indicated in access to information documents. During a 2023 field visit, DFO personnel identified the destruction of critical bull trout habitat at the unapproved bridge site, prompting hopes for the investigation to be concluded by the Edmonton team.
However, the Edmonton office later advised ceasing the Highwood investigation to allocate resources elsewhere, citing the substantial resource requirement and the risk of neglecting other cases. A decision was made in April 2025 that a prosecution in the Highwood region was not deemed in the public interest.
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern Alberta’s Conservation Science and Programs Manager, Josh Killeen, expressed disappointment over the halted investigation, emphasizing the crucial need for effective enforcement of existing wildlife protection laws. Violations of the federal Species at Risk Act can lead to hefty fines and penalties, including potential imprisonment for individuals or corporations found guilty, administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada, with DFO responsible for safeguarding aquatic endangered species.
The last conviction in Alberta under the Species at Risk Act was in 2019, with two charges laid in the past two years, currently in the legal process, according to DFO spokesperson Sam Di Lorenzo. Criticism arose regarding the lack of field visits or surveys, crucial for enforcing the act effectively, with concerns raised over the tendency for public alerts rather than proactive monitoring by DFO.
The Highwood region, home to threatened bull trout, faces erosion impacting critical habitats for native species like westslope cutthroat and bull trout, affecting their survival and reproduction chances. Non-profits and volunteers have documented erosion issues near logging roads, with minimal cases progressing to enforcement stages, partly due to relatively low penalties.
Timberwolf Wilderness Society’s Science Advisor, Dave Mayhood, highlighted the insufficiency of evidence in the Highwood decision, prompting legal action against the logging project. Notably, the permit for the project was issued post-removal of the bridge by West Fraser Timber, the parent company of Spray Lakes Sawmills.
Amid conflicting interests in Kananaskis encompassing recreation, commercial activities, and tourism, concerns persist over the strain on fragile ecosystems. Shaun Fluker from the Public Interest Law Clinic at the University of Calgary criticized the lack of engagement on Species at Risk Act issues that overlap with provincial jurisdiction, calling for a more assertive stance from authorities to protect endangered species effectively.
