Southern Resident Killer Whale Emergency Order • Georgia Strait AllianceGeorgia Strait Alliance

It has been a long journey, but thanks in part to the support we have received, the Emergency Order is at the recommendation stage of the process. It is now the Cabinet’s discretion to call for an Emergency Order – a much needed lifeline for the SRKWs.

Very recently, GSA and our allies went back to court to sue for delay in the recommendation process. Irrespective of the political circumstances, this should serve as a reminder that the Government is legally obligated to make a timely decision and that this is a non-negotiable.

So far, we’ve sent over 5000 letters of support with our online petition urging the Ministers and MPs to make a recommendation. Every single letter has made a difference. Let’s see if we can take it further!

Be part of the #PensToPower campaign!

The power of a handwritten letter is unmatched. With our united voice in written word, even the most powerful leaders must oblige and we cannot wait for the letters to start pouring into the ministerial offices!

Here’s how:

Write your letter to the Cabinet urging that they implement the Emergency Order. (letter options below)
Mail to: House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0A6 (No postage fees will be applied)
Share your letter! Email a picture to gsa@georgiastrait.org or tag us on social media with #PensToPower. We would love to hear from you!

Are you unable to get to the post office at the moment? No worries! We have modified our online petition to now write to the Cabinet imploring them to call for an Emergency Order. Click here to sign the email!

Letter templates

Please feel free to get creative with your letter! You can also find a few templates on this page that might work for you.

If you are wondering who these letters can be addressed to, here are the most strategically important Ministers from the Cabinet you could write your letter to, all of which use the mailing address provided above:

Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO)
Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance
Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
Honourable Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services

Letter option 1

Dear [Minister’s Name],

The Southern Resident Killer Whales are on the brink of extinction, with only 73 individuals left. I implore you to act now by issuing an Emergency Order under the Species at Risk Act. These whales are not just part of our ecosystem; they are a symbol of Canada’s natural beauty and heritage.

Their survival depends on your leadership. We cannot afford to lose them, and future generations should know the majesty of these whales. Please, do everything in your power to protect them before it’s too late.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Letter option 2

Dear [Minister’s Name],

The Southern Resident Killer Whales are facing imminent extinction, with only 73 individuals remaining. The Cabinet has a clear responsibility to protect them, and the time for action is now. I demand that you issue the Emergency Order under the Species at Risk Act without any further delay.

This species is at a breaking point, and your failure to act will be an unforgivable loss to our natural heritage. The Cabinet must do what is right and prioritize the survival of these whales. Their future is in your hands.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Letter option 3

Dear [Minister’s Name],

With only 73 Southern Resident Killer Whales left, we are at a pivotal moment. The Cabinet has a responsibility to balance economic progress with environmental stewardship. The extinction of this species cannot, and must not, be justified by short-term economic gain.

These whales are irreplaceable, and their survival is a test of our values as a nation. Issuing the Emergency Order under the Species at Risk Act is the only way to protect them and ensure we leave a lasting legacy of responsible environmental leadership.

Do not let these 73 be the last. Act now.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Why this action is needed

The recent losses of calves J-61, L-128 and J-60, and adults K-34 (Cali) and L-85 (Mystery) are a poignant reminder of the delicate and precarious situation the Southern Residents are in right now. With 73 individuals now remaining, the Emergency Order would be a lifeline to these majestic mammals. With projects such as the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion and Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2), the cumulative threats of oil tankers and marine shipping in the marine environment will lead to a drastic increase in underwater noise pollution, destruction of critical habitat, increased risk of oil spills and contamination, and the continued depletion of their main prey – Chinook Salmon.

In June 2024, Ecojustice, representing GSA and five other conservation groups, petitioned the Ministers of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Environment and Climate Change (ECCC) to recommend an Emergency Order under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) to protect the remaining 73 endangered SRKWs. This Emergency Order would enable immediate government intervention to address the critical threats to the whales’ survival, which are dramatically increasing, and offer the critical protections necessary to allow this population to survive.

What we’ve proposed:

A cumulative effects management plan should include:

A reduction in underwater noise and disturbance from vessels, especially near foraging areas, including the implementation of a 1,000m buffer zone, like Washington State
The implementation of prey management strategies to rebuild wild Chinook salmon populations that are declining (which are SRKW’s preferred prey)
A reduction in the discharge of toxic contaminants from vessels that directly harm SRKW and their food source

Southern residents need emergency protections to address the threats that endanger their survival, and we all have a part to play in making sure that their home, the Salish Sea, allows them to not just survive, but thrive.