What is the threat to endangered orcas?
Only 75 Southern Resident Killer Whales Remain. They May Not Survive if PM Carney Fast-Tracks Major Projects.
Prime Minister Carney is putting endangered orcas at risk in order to bulldoze through projects like pipelines, LNG terminals and major port expansions.
The Southern Resident Killer Whale, and other endangered wildlife, are protected under Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA). Even with this protection, this orca population has dropped to just 75 individuals. Their habitat is the Salish Sea — the exact waters oil and LNG tankers must pass through. Underwater noise from these ships drowns out the orcas' ability to hunt, communicate, and navigate — pushing them toward extinction. More pipelines and more LNG would mean more ships and a massive port expansion. It also means more exposure to contaminants and risks to the Chinook salmon which the orcas rely on for food. If PM Carney wants to greenlight his destructive megaprojects, he has to find ways to bypass legal protections.
To build pipelines, the government needs to undermine the law that protects the orcas.
That’s where Prime Minister Carney’s major project agenda comes into play. PM Carney has already passed the Building Canada Act (BCA) and released the "Getting Major Projects Built in Canada" discussion paper. The BCA allows projects designated as being in the “national interest” to circumvent laws that keep our communities, nature and wildlife safe — including SARA.
In PM Carney’s major project discussion paper, he proposed taking that one step further. He wanted to allow Cabinet to be able to authorize all major projects to bypass SARA protections, not just projects designated in the “national interest.” In response to a lot of public opposition – over 26,000 Canadians sent in responses – the government has backed off this part of the plan.
This is good news and shows that public pressure is working. But we can’t back down now. We want to see this commitment to upholding SARA in writing. We’ll be watching for it when the federal government tables a bill when Parliament returns later this month.
Getting the government to back off undermining SARA would be a win, but unfortunately it’s not enough.
Getting the government to back off from the very dangerous proposal of undermining SARA would be a win, but unfortunately it’s not enough to keep the Southern Resident killer whales and other endangered wildlife safe.
PM Carney has his eye on two big projects: the west coast oil pipeline and the Roberts Bank megaport. Both will have devastating impacts for the last remaining endangered orcas. But PM Carney is in the process of designating them as being “in the national interest”. With that label, both projects would be able to skirt SARA. If he were serious about protecting endangered wildlife, PM Carney would not designate either of these projects — or use the BCA to authorize any project that puts endangered wildlife at greater risk.
Whether through legislation or designation of major projects, PM Carney is choosing extinction.
The government’s major projects proposal threatens more than just Southern Resident Orcas and other endangered wildlife.
If passed, it would be the most sweeping rollback of environmental protections ever. Here’s just some of what’s actually in it:
Pre-Approving Risky Projects Without Review
PM Carney has already exempted some projects from federal review, including oil sands expansion and gas power plants. The proposals in the discussion paper would allow Cabinet to pre-approve pipelines, before routing details are complete or their impacts are understood. It would also give Cabinet the power to create "Federal Economic Zones", where all kinds of projects would be pre-approved, skipping environmental assessments entirely. This would leave Canadians in the dark about potential harms to their health, environment and vulnerable species.
One-Year Timeline Cap for Environmental Assessments
All major project assessments would be capped at one year. Complex projects cannot be responsibly assessed in 12 months. Rushing assessments means less time to properly study impacts, consult Indigenous communities, and evaluate risks to human health and safety. It will also mean fewer opportunities for the public to have a say.
Undermining Indigenous Rights
All of the proposed changes in PM Carney’s discussion paper will make it practically impossible for the government to meaningfully consult Indigenous communities on major projects, which is constitutionally required.
Giving Cabinet Sweeping Powers
The proposed changes would give Cabinet members sweeping powers to act, including by allowing projects to begin construction before project approvals are made. It would also give Ministers the ability to change any conditions that have been attached to a project approval. So if a condition was placed to protect fish habitat, Cabinet could unilaterally remove that requirement after approval.
These proposals create a system where speed, industry profits and political priorities override science, Indigenous rights, and nature.
What Happens Next
September 21, 2026 - Parliament Resumes
Right now, Parliament is on summer break. On September 21, MPs will return to Ottawa. That's when the government is expected to move forward with this legislation.
October 1, 2026 - Designation decisions on the West Coast Oil Pipeline and Robert Banks megaport
If these projects get designated as being in the “national interest” and fast-tracked, the impact on endangered wildlife like the southern resident killer whale will be devastating.
Fall 2026 - Vote Expected
Prime Minister Carney has a majority government. Unless enough Liberal MPs break ranks or public pressure forces PM Carney to retreat, this legislation is likely to pass. Now is the time to speak up, loudly.
Take Action: Ask Your MP to Protect Orcas
Your voice matters. Members of Parliament respond to constituents, especially when they hear from many people in their riding. Calling or writing your MP is one of the most effective ways to influence how they vote.
How to Contact Your MP
Call Their Office
Calling is the most effective method. Be polite, identify yourself as a constituent, and ask the MP to vote against any bill that puts health, nature and animals at risk in order to bulldoze through a pipeline.
Send an Email
Emails are read by staff and tallied. Keep your message short, personal, and clear. Explain why you care about the orca and why you oppose any bill that puts our future at risk.
Write a Letter
Physical letters stand out. You can mail letters to your MP's constituency office or their Ottawa office.
Find Your MP
Use the tool below to find your Member of Parliament and their contact information.
Let us know how it went.
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Did your MP vote to protect orcas?
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Organizations Protecting the Southern Resident Killer Whales
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