The federal government's environmental policies are falling short when it comes to protecting people, plants, animals and habitat, Canada's environmental watchdog said Thursday.

Environment commissioner Ron Thompson gave the government a grade of unsatisfactory in nine of 14 areas, including protection of endangered species, Great Lakes cleanup, control of invasive species such as zebra mussels and just keeping its own operations green.

"Progress in nine areas is unsatisfactory largely because the government did not follow through on its own commitments to strengthen protection of the environment," Thompson told reporters at a press conference in Ottawa.

He said there was satisfactory progress on some issues, including:

• Assessing dangerous chemicals.
• Managing pesticide safety.
• Identifying and cleaning up contaminated sites.

Thompson monitors the environment and sustainable development for Auditor General Sheila Fraser.

His report to the House of Commons says the government has promised for years to protect wildlife and habitat, but hasn't followed through.

Auditors recommended six years ago that the government develop an inventory of species at risk, but there is still no comprehensive list.

The Species at Risk Act requires the government to develop recovery strategies for 228 species as of last June. The three departments involved — Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada — have recovery plans for 55 species.

Environment Canada, responsible for 142 endangered species, has produced recovery plans for just 17 of them.

"The government has broken its own law, and that's not an inconsequential thing," Thompson said.

Baird blames Liberal inaction

Environment Minister John Baird told the House he accepted the report and commended the commissioner on doing "a great job."

But he blamed the previous Liberal government's inaction on the environment for the findings, adding that the Conservatives are committed to take actions to clean up the Great Lakes, and protect endangered species and their habitat. He didn't provide further detail.

"We're committed to get the job done," Baird said.

Thompson said genetically modified fish are largely unregulated in laboratories, and there are still no requirements to report escapes of those fish into the wild.

As well, he said the government is dragging its feet in combating invasions of foreign aquatic species into East Coast waterways and the Great Lakes.

The report also highlights urgent problems with toxic sediments and sewage flowing into the Great Lakes, with cleanup of those lakes stalled.