Species at Risk Assessments
On October 9, 2019, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) submitted 56 assessments of species at risk to the federal Minister of the Environment.
On January 7, 2020, the Government of Canada posted the Ministerial Response Statements for these species on the Species at Risk Act (SARA) Public Registry. The Government is now launching public consultations on the potential amendment of Schedule 1, the List of Wildlife Species at Risk under SARA. The complete set of statements and the consultation path (normal or extended) 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-2019.html
Environment and Climate Change Canada is seeking comments on the proposed amendment of Schedule 1 resulting from assessments of 17 terrestrial species. Fourteen of these are eligible to be added to Schedule 1, while one is being considered for up-listing to a higher risk category and two are being considered for down-listing to a lower risk category. Ten additional 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 will conduct consultations for 17 aquatic species eligible for addition to the list. Three aquatic species are eligible for reclassification and five other aquatic species have received confirmation of their status. Only one of these three species will be subject to public consultations. The other two species eligible for reclassification and the five species that have received confirmation of their status will not require public consultations since there will be no potential regulatory impact for these species.
In addition, where authorized by a land claims agreement to perform functions in respect of an aquatic wildlife species, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada will consult the wildlife management board.
Additional information on the listing and consultation processes for terrestrial species, as well as the possibility to amending 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". This document also includes a questionnaire that provides you guidance on the types of information and comments Environment and Climate Change Canada is seeking. It is posted on the SARA Public Registry at: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/documents/3542
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 comments by May 7, 2020 for species under a normal consultation process. Four terrestrial species, namely the Hudsonian Godwit, the Black Ash, the Yukon Draba and the Cryptic Paw Lichen, will follow an extended consultation process. Please provide comments by October 7, 2020 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 SARA Public Registry. The Public Registry also provides more general information about SARA.
You can also give your comments by answering the online questionnaire at: https://form.simplesondage.com/f/LanguageSelection.aspx?s=31AEA20B-186E-4603-A468-9279EE9E7AA8