Campaign Launches to Save Canada's Last 75 Killer Whales

Only 75 southern resident killer whales remain in Canadian waters, and a coalition of environmental groups is rallying to keep them from disappearing forever.

Five leading Canadian environmental organizations launched SaveTheOrcas.ca this week, a campaign targeting proposed federal legislation that would give Cabinet sweeping powers to approve industrial projects. The groups include Environmental Defence, West Coast Environmental Law, Equiterre, Nature Canada, and Stand.earth.

The campaign features billboards, bus shelter ads, and radio spots across major Canadian cities. Each advertisement carries a simple message: these iconic whales are worth more than pipelines, and Members of Parliament have the power to protect them.

At stake are projects like the West Coast Oil Pipeline and the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion, which would bring massive oil tankers through the Salish Sea where the whales live and hunt. The increased vessel traffic, noise pollution, and risk of oil spills could push the already endangered population past the point of no return.

The proposed legislation mirrors last year's controversial Building Canada Act, which allows projects deemed in the "national interest" to skip environmental reviews. The new changes would go further, letting projects bypass safety laws without needing that special designation at all.

Why This Inspires

Southern resident killer whales have lived in British Columbia's coastal waters for thousands of years. They appear on Indigenous carvings, hockey jerseys, and in the cultural identity of the Pacific Northwest. Their survival represents something bigger than one species.

The campaign website includes a tracker showing how each Member of Parliament votes on the legislation. This transparency gives Canadians a direct way to hold their representatives accountable for protecting wildlife and environmental safeguards.

Environmental lawyer Anna Johnston put it plainly: environmental laws aren't red tape but a safety net meant to protect Canadians and the environment they rely on and care about.

The coalition argues that pushing endangered species toward extinction isn't nation-building. Instead, they're calling for smarter development that puts nature front and center, creating a Canada that future generations will recognize and cherish.

Canadians now have a clear way to make their voices heard before Parliament votes this fall.