This enactment designates the 15th day of October in each and every year as “All Buffleheads Day”.

Preamble

Whereas the Bufflehead is Canada’s smallest diving duck and one of the rarest ducks in North America, and it occurs from coast to coast and migrates between Canada and the United States;

Whereas the Bufflehead has set a world record for punctuality in its migrations by consistently arriving in Shoal Harbour Bird Sanctuary on Vancouver Island on the 298th day of the solar cycle;

Whereas 2011 marks the 80th anniversary of the 1931 creation of both the Shoal Harbour Bird Sanctuary, the first marine migratory bird sanctuary on Canada’s west coast, and its sister sanctuary, the Esquimalt Lagoon Bird Sanctuary, as part of Canada’s commitment to the Migratory Birds Convention Act and to the protection of the habitats of both resident and migratory bird species;

Whereas the 298th day of the solar cycle, except in leap years, falls on October 15th, and marks the very day on which Buffleheads return to the Shoal Harbour Bird Sanctuary from their summer habitat on the northern Great Plains;

Whereas the punctuality of this migratory phenomenon represents an important marker by which to gauge climatic changes across the nation;

And whereas Nature Canada, at its 2010 Annual General Meeting, passed a resolution calling for October 15th to be proclaimed “All Buffleheads Day”;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Short Title

1. This Act may be cited as the All Buffleheads Day Act.

All Buffleheads Day

2. Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the 15th day of October is to be known as “All Buffleheads Day”.

Not a legal holiday

3. For greater certainty, All Buffleheads Day is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day.

The post C-454 An Act respecting an All Buffleheads Day appeared first on Elizabeth May.

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– Mr. Speaker, it appears I am lightening the mood in this corner already with the news that I am presenting a private member’s bill for October 15 to be declared a national All Buffleheads Day. I bring the good news that the most punctual duck in Canada is now back. The Buffleheads travel to far-flung places, but on the 298th day of the solar cycle, like clockwork, our smallest diving duck returns. This duck puts the swallows of Capistrano to shame and is a better weather predictor than the groundhog.

This is a wonderful duck to celebrate. All Buffleheads Day will be put forward to all members to decide whether we should mark it every year on October 15. We can come together for many things. The little Bufflehead duck is found across Canada and it is worth celebrating.

The post Bill C-454 – All Buffleheads Day Act appeared first on Elizabeth May.

Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to remind us that 23 years ago next week was the first global scientific conference on the threat of climate change. Canada sponsored it. We were proud to have that conference opened by our Prime Minister, and the scientists gathered there made the following statement:

Humanity is conducting an unintended, uncontrolled, globally pervasive experiment whose ultimate consequences could be second only to a global nuclear war.

Since that time, the warnings of those scientists are no longer future warnings of disappearing ice caps, retreating glaciers, increased floods and fires. They are the daily stuff of our newspapers.

Now is the time to reflect on the warnings of scientists to reinvest in their efforts and to ensure that once again Canada takes a lead globally in the fight to reduce greenhouse gases and protect our country.

Omnibus Crime Bill

First, let me say to the hon. government benches and the members here where we agree. I would happily vote for the Victims of Terrorism Act.   I would vote to change the Criminal Records Act to replace the word “pardon” with “record suspension”.

However, I will be forced to vote against this legislation if it comes packaged with sections that would cause this country nothing but grief.

I wish to say to all hon. members on the government side whose talking points have repeatedly forced them to say that those who question the flawed premise of mandatory minimum sentences have somehow sided with criminals against victims. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Members of my family are involved in law enforcement. People close to me have been murdered.
It is not as though we side with criminals when we recognize a piece of legislation is so egregiously flawed that this place should say “no.”  We look at all the evidence from criminologists, not just one or two, but all of them. We look at evidence from our own Department of Justice that studied this matter in 2002. We look at what is happening in the U.S., not only at the fact that its prisons are full of people but its prisons are full of people disproportionately low-income and black.

We also look at what could happen in this country. We have seen the report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the report on the Commission on Systemic Racism in the Ontario Criminal Justice System. We know that with this legislation, without a lot of changes in our system, we would disproportionately fill our jails with people who should not be in jail.

We also know that this legislation would cost us billions, which has not been fully costed.  Yet, at the end of the day, it may actually result in weaker sentences for those who deserve higher sentences because we would ruin the opportunity for judicial discretion.

National All Buffleheads Day

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to share good news with the House that members of my community, over 100 strong, gathered on Saturday, October 15 to celebrate two important milestones, the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Shoal Harbour Protected Area and the re-emergence and punctual arrival of the little Bufflehead duck.

We have now created in local Saanich—Gulf Islands, through the Sidney town proclamation and the North Saanich town proclamation, an All Buffleheads Day for October 15. This is our “Hinterland’s Who’s Who” moment since I share with my colleagues that this little duck is a rapid diver, a tree nester and punctual, returning from its migrations all across Canada within a day or two of October 15.

I urge colleagues to join me when I put forward a Private Member’s Bill that October 15 should henceforth be National All Buffleheads Day.

The post Statements on the Hill appeared first on Elizabeth May.

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We have now created in local Saanich—Gulf Islands, through the Sidney town proclamation and the North Saanich town proclamation, an All Buffleheads Day for October 15. This is our “Hinterland’s Who’s Who” moment since I share with my colleagues that this little duck is a rapid diver, a tree nester and punctual, returning from its migrations all across Canada within a day or two of October 15.

I urge colleagues to join me when I put forward a private member’s bill that October 15 should henceforth be National All Buffleheads Day.

The post National All Buffleheads Day appeared first on Elizabeth May.

This year, a celebration is planned at Lillian Hoffar Park, North  Saanich, starting at 11am, hosted by the Town of Sidney, the District of North Saanich, and Member of Parliament Elizabeth May.

Green  Party Leader and Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands will be  presenting a private member’s bill asking for October 15th to be  declared National All Buffleheads Day in honour of the duck.

“The Bufflehead is known as the Spirit Duck because they are such  spritely little things.  They are so punctual that when you see them  arrive, you know the date instantly.  However, with climatic shifts  occurring, we need to keep a close eye on this little duck,” said May.

Naturalists are watching to see if the timing of the Bufflehead  migration changes, as it may provide a signal of climate change.  In  Britain, scientists have already noted changes in arrival and departure  dates of migrant birds which they attribute to the changing climate.

“With a precise timeline like we see with the Bufflehead, it really  brings home how carefully synchronized nature’s cycles are,” said May. “The Bufflehead has been very stable over many decades.  If we start  seeing changes in its migration patterns, it will be an indicator of  environmental change that deserves notice.”

Within May’s riding, the District of North Saanich and the Town of  Sidney have both long worked hard to protect Bufflehead habitat in Shoal Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary, established in 1931.  The duck is  part of the official crest of the Town of Sidney.  Sidney and North  Saanich have already proclaimed Oct. 15 to be All Bufflehead’s Day.

The Bufflehead’s small size is an adaptation to fit into the vacant  nest cavities of one species of woodpecker, the Flicker, which makes its home in Aspen trees. Thus, Buffleheads have evolved with and are  dependent on the Flicker.  Its speedy movements, constant activity, and  “water-skiing” posture during mating make this important species  particularly endearing and a delight to watch.  The Bufflehead is unique to North America, and has been called a truly Canadian duck.

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