For many years, Canadians have called for federal legislation to protect endangered species. The Liberal government has finally responded with its Species at Risk Act. Unfortunately, this proposed legislation does not, in the NDP's view, do what is needed to ensure the survival of Canada's endangered species.

Canada's growing number of endangered species require some basic elements in the Species at Risk Act (SARA) to ensure their survival:

• Endangered species need their habitat protected.

80% of Canada's endangered species have been put at risk because of habitat loss. Habitat protection must be mandatory in SARA, at least in the areas of federal jurisdiction. Currently it is not.

• Scientists, not politicians, should determine whether a species is endangered.

The proposed Species at Risk Act gives politicians the final say over which species are endangered! Only qualified scientists should say whether or not a species is endangered.

• Canada needs to protect species that cross borders.

Endangered species are protected in the US (by the US Endangered Species Act), but when they cross into Canada, they lose that protection. The federal government must ensure that areas of federal jurisdiction - including transboundary species and fisheries - are covered under SARA.

Everybody needs to be part of the solution. Landowners aren't the only stakeholders in species protection. Land users, workers and communities also have an important role to play.