Amendments to Species at Risk List

Summary#

This is a proposed Order Amending Schedule 1 to the Species at Risk Act, published in the Canada Gazette on September 5, 2020. If made, it would change the legal list of at-risk wildlife in Canada by adding 8 species, reclassifying 4, and changing the English names of 2, which leads to recovery or management planning and (on federal lands) legal protections. Interested people had 30 days from publication to comment.

What it does#

• Adds these species to Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (new listings proposed as endangered or special concern):
  • False‑foxglove Sun Moth (Pyrrhia aurantiago) — proposed endangered
  • Acuteleaf Small Limestone Moss (Seligeria acutifolia) — proposed endangered
  • Quebec Rockcress (Boechera quebecensis) — proposed endangered
  • Red‑tailed Leafhopper (Aflexia rubranura) — two separate populations: Great Lakes Plains and Prairie — proposed special concern
  • Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) — proposed special concern
  • Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) — proposed special concern
  • Yukon Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum flavum var. aquilinum) — proposed special concern
  • Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis) — proposed special concern (down‑listed from endangered)
• Reclassifies (changes status of) these species:
  • Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) — proposed up‑list to endangered
  • Red‑headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) — proposed up‑list to endangered
  • Spoon‑leaved Moss (Bryoandersonia illecebra) — proposed down‑list to threatened
  • (Prairie Skink noted above is a down‑listing)
• Changes English names only (no status change):
  • Coastal Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus affinis) (name change)
  • Streaked Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata) (name change)
• What those changes trigger under the law:
  • For new endangered or threatened listings: development of a recovery strategy and action plan (timelines in SARA: recovery strategy for endangered within 1 year, for threatened within 2 years after listing).
  • For species of special concern: development of a management plan within 3 years.
  • On federal lands (and for migratory birds/aquatic species across Canada), SARA’s general prohibitions against killing, harming or destroying residences can apply once a species is listed.

Who's affected#

• The 14 named species and the places they live (many in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec; one in Yukon).
• Federal departments that manage lands or species at risk, especially Environment and Climate Change Canada, Parks Canada Agency, and where relevant Department of National Defence (example: stewardship actions at CFB Shilo were discussed for the Prairie Skink).
• Indigenous peoples and communities that live on or use lands where these species occur — the notice specifically mentions the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations for the Yukon Wild Buckwheat.
• Researchers, conservation groups, and anyone carrying out activities on federal lands where a newly listed species occurs, because some activities may need permits or to follow measures designed to avoid harm.
• Provinces and territories and other land managers who may be asked to cooperate in recovery or management planning. The federal listing does not replace provincial laws but can apply on federal lands.

Why it matters#

• Listing or reclassifying a species is the legal step that starts recovery actions (plans, habitat identification, and sometimes legal prohibitions). That can change how projects or land uses on federal lands are managed to avoid harming listed species.
• The government estimates the direct net cost of implementing these listings (planning, compliance promotion, permits) at a low level: about $160,000 to $230,000 over 10 years, discounted (federal cost). Permit‑related costs to applicants were estimated around $1,100 (undiscounted) in total in the short term.
• Some species have cultural or ecological importance (for example, painted turtles and the Red‑headed Woodpecker), so listing can matter to local communities, Indigenous cultural practices, recreation (e.g., birdwatching), and ecosystem services (pollination, nutrient cycling, etc.).
• Most of the proposed changes were judged by the department to have low impact on people and businesses. The notice records that consultations produced some objections (from a province and some environmental groups) about specific changes (notably the Prairie Skink and certain up‑listings).
• This is a proposal published in the Canada Gazette (Part I). It is not final law until the order is made following the process described in the notice.