Serious budget problems at Environment Canada are threatening wildlife programs and services within the federal department, freezing allotted money for some and reducing funds to nothing for others, CBC News has learned.

Of most concern to conservationists among a handful of cuts is that the Canadian Wildlife Service has had its service budget frozen for the rest of the fiscal year, meaning all its scientific field and survey work has been halted. The national wildlife agency is directly responsible for studying and protecting wildlife in Canada and puts out the Hinterland Who's Who public service ads.

Wildlife and bird habitats protected as National Wildlife Areas have seen funding cut to zero.
(CBC)

"Wildlife doesn't have a voice, and sometimes the results of cuts today aren't realized for many years," said Sandy Baumgartner, executive director of programs and communications for the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Sources say the budget cuts are as follows:

• The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network, which observes changes in ecosystems, has lost 80 per cent of its budget.
• The Migratory Bird Program, which monitors the health of bird populations, has seen its budget cut by 50 per cent.
• The budget for the National Wildlife Areas, a program that protects nationally significant habitats for wildlife and birds, has been slashed from $1.9 million to zero.

Bob Bailey, a hunter and conservationist, was shocked to hear the federal government's support for Canada's 144 National Wildlife Areas has been reduced to nothing.

"I simply can't believe. Have we become this urbanized, have we become this uncaring that these places could be in jeopardy?" said Bailey, who is with the Delta Waterfowl Foundation.

Sources told CBC that funds to those programs were slashed after Environment Canada overspent its budget.

Environment Minister John Baird wasn't available for comment. His department sent an e-mail stating that no programs have been cut and that spending is being prioritized for climate change initiatives.

"The government has been clear that its priorities are being a climate change champion, and taking real action to provide clean air and clean water for Canadians," the e-mail said. "We think Canadians are supportive of those priorities."