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S.M. 2013, c. 38
Bill 24, 3rd Session, 40th Legislature
The Endangered Species Amendment Act (Ecosystem Protection and Miscellaneous Amendments)
(Assented to December 5, 2013)
HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:
The Endangered Species Act is amended by this Act.
The title is amended by adding "AND ECOSYSTEMS" after "SPECIES".
The preamble is amended
(a) in clause (a), by adding "and ecosystems" after "animal species"; and
(b) by replacing clause (b) with the following:
(b) it is critical that coordinated efforts be made to protect plant and animal species and ecosystems that are at risk and to promote their recovery;
Section 1 is amended
(a) by renumbering it as subsection 1(1);
(b) by adding the following definitions:
"advisory committee" means the Endangered Species and Ecosystems Advisory Committee continued under section 6; (« Comité consultatif »)
"department" means the department of government over which the minister presides; (« ministère »)
"ecosystem" means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit; (« écosystème »)
"species of special concern" means a species that is declared a species of special concern under subsection 8(5); (« espèce préoccupante »)
(c) by repealing the definitions "extinct species" and "wildlife group"; and
(d) by adding the following as subsections 1(2) and (3):
Reference to "Act" includes regulations
In this Act, a reference to "this Act" includes the regulations made under this Act.
Interpretation — reintroduction of extirpated species
For the purpose of this Act, an extirpated species may be reintroduced into Manitoba as the result of actions authorized by department officials or by natural movements or migration of the species.
Subsection 2(1) is amended
(a) in clause (a), by adding "and species of special concern" after "threatened species"; and
(b) by replacing clause (c) with the following:
(c) to conserve and protect endangered and threatened ecosystems in the province and promote the recovery of those ecosystems.
Sections 4 and 5 are repealed.
The following is added before section 6:
The minister may delegate to an employee of the government any power conferred or duty imposed on the minister under this Act.
Subsection 6(1) is replaced with the following:
The Endangered Species Advisory Committee is continued as the Endangered Species and Ecosystems Advisory Committee.
Subsections 6(2), (3) and (5) are amended by striking out "Endangered Species Advisory Committee" and substituting "advisory committee".
The following is added after section 6:
The advisory committee is responsible for providing advice and recommendations to the minister with respect to
(a) species that are endangered, threatened, extirpated or that are of special concern; and
(b) ecosystems that are endangered or threatened.
The advisory committee must provide the minister with its advice and recommendations respecting the matters set out in subsection (1) each year.
The minister may direct the advisory committee to conduct a study on any matter relating to plants, animal life, ecosystems or biodiversity in the province.
When the advisory committee conducts a study at the direction of the minister, the committee must provide the minister with a report setting out its findings and any recommendations it may have on the matter in question.
Subsection 7(1) is amended
(a) by adding ", a species of special concern or the protection of an endangered or threatened ecosystem" after "extirpated species"; and
(b) by adding "gift, exchange, bequest" after "lease".
The centred heading for Part III is replaced with "SPECIES AT RISK".
The following is added after subsection 8(4):
Where the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines that a species indigenous to Manitoba is at risk of becoming a threatened or endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats to the species, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, declare the species to be a species of special concern.
The following is added after section 8:
Recovery strategy for threatened and endangered species
When a species has been designated an endangered or threatened species, the department must prepare a recovery strategy that sets out the steps to be taken to prevent any further reductions of the species and to promote the recovery of the species.
Recovery strategy for extirpated species
When a species has been designated an extirpated species, the department must prepare a recovery strategy that sets out the steps to be taken to reintroduce the species in Manitoba, unless the minister determines that it is not practicable to reintroduce the species.
Management plan for species of special concern
When a species has been designated a species of special concern, the department must prepare a plan that sets out the steps to be taken to manage the population of the species.
Subsection 9(1) is amended
(a) in clauses (a) and (b), by adding ", a species of special concern" after "a threatened species"; and
(b) by adding the following after clause (b):
(b.1) prohibiting or regulating the entry into the province or any specified area of the province of any species of plant or animal or any other thing that poses a threat to an endangered species, a threatened species, a species of special concern or an extirpated species that has been reintroduced;
(b.2) exempting a person or class of persons from specified provisions of this Act in prescribed circumstances;
Clause 10(1)(a) is amended by striking out "an endangered species" and substituting "a member of an endangered species".
Subsection 11(1) is amended in the part after clause (b) by adding ", management" after "protection".
Subsection 12(1) is amended
(a) in clause (a), by striking out "or the habitat" and substituting "and its habitat"; and
(b) in clause (b), by striking out everything after "the development upon" and substituting "the species and its habitat.".
The following is added after section 12 and before the centred heading for Part IV:
PART III.1
ENDANGERED AND THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS
Where the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines that the continued viability of an ecosystem is at serious risk throughout all or a significant portion of its Manitoba range, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, declare the ecosystem an endangered ecosystem.
Where the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines that an ecosystem is at risk of becoming endangered, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, declare the ecosystem a threatened ecosystem.
A regulation under this section must contain a description of the designated ecosystem.
When an ecosystem has been designated an endangered or threatened ecosystem, the department must prepare a recovery strategy that sets out the steps to be taken to prevent any further losses of the ecosystem and to promote the recovery of the ecosystem.
The Lieutenant Governor in Council may establish and maintain a system of ecosystem preservation zones in the province.
Designating ecosystem preservation zones
When an ecosystem has been designated as an endangered or threatened ecosystem, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, designate an area of Crown land that contains examples of that ecosystem as an ecosystem preservation zone.
When an ecosystem preservation zone has been designated, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations to protect the ecosystem located in the zone, including regulations
(a) prohibiting or restricting entry into the ecosystem preservation zone;
(b) respecting the issuance, suspension and cancellation of licences or permits to enter the ecosystem preservation zone;
(c) prohibiting, governing or regulating any activity, use or thing in the ecosystem preservation zone.
Public notice of proposed regulations
At least 90 days before a regulation is made under section 12.3 or 12.4, the minister must give public notice that a copy of the proposed regulation is available for review on the department's website
(a) by publishing a notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the vicinity of the ecosystem preservation zone or the proposed ecosystem preservation zone; and
(b) in any other manner he or she considers appropriate.
Within 60 days after public notice is given under subsection (1), any person may make a written submission to the minister.
PART III.2
ENFORCEMENT
An officer exercising a power under this Act must produce identification when requested to do so.
When discharging duties under this Act, an officer may enter and pass through or over private land without being liable for trespass.
For the purpose of enforcing this Act, an officer may signal or request a vehicle to stop, and the person having control of the vehicle must bring the vehicle to a stop and must not proceed until permitted to do so by the officer.
An officer may inspect any plant or animal species found in or on a vehicle.
An officer who witnesses the commission of an offence under this Act may arrest the person committing the offence without a warrant and bring the person before a justice to be dealt with according to law.
Seizure in execution of duties
An officer acting in the course of his or her duties who discovers an offence under this Act being committed may seize any thing that is used or involved in the commission of the offence or that is evidence of the offence, and may bring it before a justice, or report on it to a justice, to be dealt with according to law.
Warrant for search and seizure
A justice, upon being satisfied by information on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that
(a) an offence under this Act is being or has been committed; and
(b) there is to be found in any place, premises or vehicle any thing that will afford evidence of the offence;
may at any time issue a warrant authorizing an officer and any other person named in the warrant to enter and search the place, premises or vehicle for any such thing, and to seize it and as soon as practicable bring it before a justice, or report on it to a justice, to be dealt with according to law.
A warrant under this section may be issued upon application without notice.
Search and seizure without warrant
An officer may exercise the power of search and seizure without a warrant if the conditions for obtaining a warrant exist but it is not practicable in the circumstances to obtain one. In that case, the item seized must be brought before, or reported to, a justice, who must deal with it according to law.
For the purpose of conducting investigations related to the enforcement of this Act, the minister may exempt an officer from the application of provisions of this Act.
An exemption must be in writing and include restrictions respecting
(a) the duration of the exemption; and
(b) the acts or omissions, which would otherwise constitute offences, that the officer is allowed to commit while conducting investigations.
No obstruction or false statements
A person must not obstruct an officer carrying out his or her duties under this Act or make a false or misleading statement to an officer.
If an officer is of the opinion that any activity which is being, or which is about to be, carried out by a person would result, or would be likely to result, in a contravention of this Act, the officer may issue an order (a "prevention order") requiring the person to cease engaging in the activity set out in the order.
A prevention order may be served on a person
(a) by delivering a copy of the order to the person or an agent of the person; or
(b) by sending a copy of the order by registered mail to the last known address of the person.
A prevention order remains in effect until it is
(a) withdrawn or discontinued by the officer who issued it; or
(b) set aside or varied on an appeal under section 12.14.
A person who is the subject of a prevention order must comply with the order.
A person who is the subject of a prevention order may appeal the order to the minister.
The person appealing must send a written appeal notice to the minister within 14 days after the date of the order, or within any further period that the minister may allow. The notice must state the reasons for the appeal.
The minister is not required to hold a hearing before deciding an appeal.
On an appeal, the minister may confirm, vary or set aside the prevention order.
The centred heading to Part IV is amended by adding "AND PENALTIES" after "OFFENCES".
Section 13 is replaced with the following:
A person who contravenes a provision of this Act is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction,
(a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both; and
(b) in the case of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $250,000.
In addition to any penalty imposed under subsection (1), a court may require the convicted person to pay an additional fine that takes into account any monetary benefit, or estimated monetary benefit, that accrued to the convicted person as a result of the offence.
Liability of directors and officers
If a corporation commits an offence under this Act, a director or officer of the corporation who authorized, permitted or acquiesced in the commission of the offence is also guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to the penalties set out in clause (1)(a) or subsection (2), whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted.
The following is added after section 13:
Forfeiture order re seized items
In addition to any other penalty that may be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under this Act, a court may order that any item seized under this Act be forfeited to the Crown and disposed of as directed by the minister.
Section 14 is amended by striking out "or the regulations".
The following is added after section 14 and before Part V:
A prosecution for an offence under this Act may not be commenced later than one year after the day on which evidence sufficient to justify a prosecution for the offence came to the knowledge of an officer. A certificate of the officer as to the day on which the evidence came to his or her knowledge is evidence of that date.
Consequential amendment, C.C.S.M. c. C340
Clause 7.1.1(2)(c) of The Crown Lands Act is amended by adding "and Ecosystems" after "Endangered Species".
Consequential amendment, C.C.S.M. c. W130
Subsection 69.1(1) of The Wildlife Act is amended by adding "and Ecosystems" after "Endangered Species".
This Act comes into force on the day it receives royal assent.