Should the Emergency Protection Order for Western Chorus Frogs in Longueuil Be Lifted?

Official title: Notice of intent — Evaluation by Environment and Climate Change Canada of the ongoing need for the Emergency Order for the Protection of the Western Chorus Frog Great Lakes / St. Lawrence — Canadian Shield Population (Longueuil)

Open Regulations & Permits Environment & Climate
A tiny frog in Longueuil, Quebec has been protected by an emergency federal order since 2021. Now the city has changed its zoning rules, and the government wants to know if that protection is still needed. If the order is lifted, about 20 hectares of frog habitat could be opened to development.

Why This Matters

Live near the Boisé Du Tremblay in Longueuil? This decision affects what gets built in your neighbourhood. The Western Chorus Frog is a threatened species, and this is one of its last strongholds in the region. Developers have been waiting since 2021 to build on this land.

What Could Change

The emergency order protecting 20 hectares of frog habitat could be amended or repealed entirely. If lifted, development projects that were blocked in 2021 could proceed. The Minister will decide based on whether local zoning changes provide enough protection.

Key Issues

  • Are local zoning changes enough to protect the frog habitat without federal intervention?
  • What development activities could threaten the frog population if the order is lifted?
  • What measures are in place to protect the Western Chorus Frog and its habitat?

How to Participate

  1. Review the Emergency Order and the species information to understand what's being protected.
  2. Send your comments by email to lepreglementations-sararegulations@ec.gc.ca or by mail to Paula Brand, Director, SARA Policy, Canadian Wildlife Service, 351 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, 15th Floor, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3.

Submit Your Input

Draft Email
Questions Being Asked (4)
  1. What activities within the area of application of the Emergency Order could threaten the Boisé Du Tremblay metapopulation if the Order were repealed, including the likelihood and timing of those activities?
  2. What are the potential impacts of the activities on the Boisé Du Tremblay metapopulation?
  3. Are measures in place in the area of application of the Emergency Order that would mitigate or prevent threats to the Western Chorus Frog and its habitat, even if the Order were repealed?
  4. Do you have any relevant data on the species and its habitat within the Order area?

Key Documents