Order Acknowledging Receipt of the Assessments Done Pursuant to subsection 23(1) of the Act: SI/2022-6

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 156, Number 4

Registration
SI/2022-6 February 16, 2022

SPECIES AT RISK ACT

P.C. 2022-74 February 3, 2022

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, acknowledges receipt, on the making of this Order, of the assessments done pursuant to subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Act footnote a, by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) with respect to the species set out in the annexed schedule.

Order Acknowledging Receipt of the Assessments Done Pursuant to subsection 23(1) of the Act

SCHEDULE

Endangered Species

Mammals

Special Concern

Mammals

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Northern Mountain population
Caribou population des montagnes du Nord

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

Order to acknowledge receipt of the assessments from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) regarding the status of three wildlife species under paragraph 15(1)(a) and in accordance with subsection 23(1) of the Species at Risk Act, S.C. 2002, c. 29 (SARA).

Objective

The objective of this Order is for the Governor in Council (GIC), on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, to acknowledge receipt of the COSEWIC assessments for Caribou, Northern Mountain population; Caribou, Central Mountain population; and Caribou, Southern Mountain population.

Background

The purpose of SARA is to prevent wildlife species from being extirpated or becoming extinct; to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated, endangered, or threatened as a result of human activity; and to manage species of special concern to prevent them from becoming endangered or threatened. COSEWIC was formed as an independent scientific body in 1977 with a mandate to provide a single, official, scientifically sound, national classification of wildlife species at risk in Canada. COSEWIC provides the Minister of the Environment with assessments of the status of Canadian wildlife species.

Implications

The COSEWIC assessments recommend the addition of the three species to Schedule 1 of SARA.

Under subsection 27(1.1) of SARA, the GIC may, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, within nine months after receiving COSEWIC’s assessment of the status of a species, review the COSEWIC assessment, accept the assessment and add the species to the List of species at risk, decide not to add the species to the List or refer the matter back to COSEWIC for further information or consideration. Under subsection 27(1) of SARA, the GIC may also, on the recommendation of the Minister of the Environment, reclassify or remove a listed species.

In addition, under subsection 27(2) of SARA, before making a recommendation in respect of a wildlife species or a species at risk, the Minister of the Environment must take into account the assessment of COSEWIC in respect of the species, consult the competent minister or ministers and, if a species is found in an area in respect of which a wildlife management board is authorized by a land claims agreement to perform functions in respect of a wildlife species, consult the wildlife management board.

Under subsection 27(3) of SARA, if the GIC has not taken a course of action under subsection 27(1.1) of SARA within nine months after receiving a COSEWIC assessment, the Minister must, by order, amend the List in accordance with COSEWIC’s assessment.

Contact

Paula Brand
Director
SARA Policy
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Telephone: 1‑800‑668‑6767
Email: LEPreglementations-SARAregulations@ec.gc.ca

Annex 1 — COSEWIC assessments of three species

Table 1: Species assessments to be received by GIC and considered for addition to Schedule 1 of SARA
Legal Population Name Scientific Name Current SARA Status table 1 note a COSEWIC Status Assessment Range
Caribou, Central Mountain population Rangifer tarandus None Endangered British Columbia, Alberta
Caribou, Northern Mountain population Rangifer tarandus None Special concern Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia
Caribou, Southern Mountain population Rangifer tarandus None Endangered British Columbia

Table 1 note(s)

Table 1 note a

Although the three species assessed by COSEWIC are not currently listed under SARA, all caribou included in Caribou, Central Mountain population, Caribou, Southern Mountain population, and nine herds of caribou included in Caribou, Northern Mountain population are currently listed on SARA’s Schedule 1 as Woodland Caribou, Southern Mountain population (Threatened). The remaining herds included in Caribou, Northern Mountain population are currently listed on SARA’s Schedule 1 as Woodland Caribou, Northern Mountain population (Special Concern).

Return to table 1 note a referrer