Western Chorus Frog protected in Longueuil

Summary#

The federal government made the Emergency Order for the Protection of the Western Chorus Frog Great Lakes / St. Lawrence — Canadian Shield Population (Longueuil) under the Species at Risk Act to protect parts of the Western Chorus Frog’s habitat in Longueuil, Quebec. The Order came into force on November 20, 2021 and covers about 20 hectares of land where certain development and disturbance are now prohibited.

What it does#

• Identifies specific parcels and parts of parcels in Longueuil (listed in a schedule) as habitat necessary for the frog’s recovery.
• Prohibits, in that area, activities such as:
  • digging, removing, compacting or plowing soil;
  • removing, mowing, pruning or introducing vegetation;
  • draining, flooding or otherwise altering surface water;
  • installing, constructing or doing maintenance on infrastructure;
  • using vehicles off roads or paved paths;
  • building barriers that block frog movement;
  • dumping materials (e.g. soil, gravel, construction debris, pool water);
  • using fertilizers or pest-control products as defined in federal law.
• Exempts activities related to public safety or health if those are authorized under provincial law.
• Says breaking these prohibitions is an offence under the Species at Risk Act.
• Allows for possible SARA permits in some cases, assessed case-by-case.

Who's affected#

• Municipality of Longueuil (owns some of the land and the partially built Béliveau Boulevard extension).
• Landowners of the listed parcels: four developers (businesses), two private landowners, and the municipality.
• Builders, developers and contractors with planned or ongoing works in the listed area.
• Nearby residents and commuters (because the Béliveau Boulevard extension may not be completed without a permit).
• The federal government will enforce the Order and estimated enforcement costs are about $1.1 million over 10 years.
• Economic impact estimates in the Order’s analysis:
  • Possible depreciation in developable land value of $30 to $52 million (central estimate $40.9 million).
  • Lost usefulness of already-built road work estimated at $1.5 to $2 million (central $1.8 million).
  • A central estimate of $10.1 million in land-value losses spread across the four business entities (noting uncertainty about whether they are small businesses).

Why it matters#

• The Western Chorus Frog in the Montérégie/Longueuil area is at risk mainly because habitat has been lost to urban development. Protecting the places it needs (wetlands and nearby uplands) increases the chance the local population can survive and recover.
• In practice, the Order can stop or delay road building and new housing construction on the listed lands unless a permit is granted. That can affect housing supply, local traffic plans, and the value of those properties.
• It also protects wetland functions that people use indirectly: flood buffering, water filtration, and carbon storage, and it helps protect other species that share that habitat.
• The Order is a short-term, enforceable step. The government says it will keep working with Quebec, the city and landowners on longer-term conservation solutions.