Protect Our Southern Resident Killer Whales

📝 Open Letter: Protect Our Southern Resident Killer Whales

Dear Canadians, tourists, and everyone who loves BC,

As of September 2025, the Southern Resident Killer Whales in the Salish Sea remain under imminent threat. 🐋 Despite promises to implement protective measures from the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) and the 16 recommendations from the Canada Energy Regulator, many of these protections have still not been put in place. The whales continue to face risks from increased shipping noise, vessel strikes, and potential oil spills. ⚠️

We are at a critical moment. The current government, including the following ministers, must take urgent action:

• 💼 Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
• 💼 Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
• 💼 Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
• 💼 Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
• 💼 Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry
• 💼 Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience
• 💼 Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
• 💼 François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance

Here’s what we can ask them to do:

• ✅ Implement all 16 recommendations from the Canada Energy Regulator immediately.
• ✅ Issue an emergency order to provide urgent protection for the Southern Residents.
• ✅ Prioritize science, conservation, and the public good over industrial interests.
• ✅ Ensure transparency and accountability in all actions related to the Salish Sea.

This is where we all can make a difference. ✍️ Sign petitions, write letters, and share this blog post widely. The whales cannot speak for themselves, but together we can raise our voices. 💪🌊

Reflect for a moment: 🤔

• What kind of world do we want to live in — one where iconic species vanish, or one where we take responsibility for the life around us?
• How can we teach the next generation the value of empathy, conservation, and action?
• Are we willing to let bureaucracy and politics dictate the fate of creatures that inspire and connect us all?

Let’s not wait. 🕊️ Take a few minutes today to sign petitions, write letters to these ministers, and share this blog post to remind everyone that our actions today shape the world tomorrow. 🌎❤️

Sincerely,
Tina Winterlik (Zipolita) 💜

#ProtectTheWhales #SouthernResidents #SalishSea #BCNature #ActNow #EmpathyOverOutrage #WriteShareSign