On October 15, 2018, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) submitted 88 assessments of species at risk to the federal Minister of the Environment.
On January 11, 2019, the Government of Canada posted the Ministerial Response Statements for these species on the Species at Risk (SAR) Public Registry, and public consultations on the amendment of Schedule 1, the List of Wildlife Species at Risk under SARA have been launched. A complete set of statements and the consultation path for each species are available at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-act-accord-funding/listing-process/minister-environment-response-assessments-october-2018.html
Environment and Climate Change Canada is seeking comment on the proposed amendment of Schedule 1 resulting from assessments of 21 terrestrial species. Thirteen of these are newly eligible for addition to Schedule 1 while three are being considered for up-listing to a higher risk status and four are being considered for down-listing to a lower risk status. One species is being considered to be removed from Schedule 1. Twenty one terrestrial species at risk have had their current Schedule 1 status confirmed. These are not included in this consultation process, as no regulatory amendment is required.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is conducting separate consultations for 28 aquatic species. One species is being reclassified and an additional five aquatic species are status confirmation both for which public consultations are not required.
Additional information on the listing and consultation processes for terrestrial species, as well as the process to amend Schedule 1 by adding or reclassifying species, is available in "Consultation on Amending the List of Species under the Species at Risk Act -Terrestrial Species: January 2019". This document also includes a questionnaire that will provide you with guidance on the types of information and comments we are seeking. It is posted on the SAR Public Registry at:
https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=3378
You are invited to submit comments on the potential impacts of amending the List of Wildlife Species at Risk according to these COSEWIC status assessments. Your comments will be considered and will inform the Minister’s recommendation to Cabinet. Please provide remarks by May 13, 2019 for species under a normal consultation process. Four terrestrial species will follow an extended consultation process. Please provide remarks by October 14, 2019 for species following an extended consultation path. There will also be an opportunity to provide comments during the 30-day public consultation period associated with pre-publication in Canada Gazette Part I. More detailed information on individual species is included in the COSEWIC status reports, which are available on the SAR Public Registry. The Public Registry also provides more general information about SARA.